The Shawl 1

The opening of this story makes me believe that the shawl is some sort of symbol of protection or safety.  The little baby girl Magda is wrapped in the shawl and as long as she's in the shawl nothing can hurt her. Not the weather or the lack of food. Rosa and Stella even go as far as saying it is magic because it manages to keep Magda alive for three days without food.  Even though Magda is extremely malnourished but she still manages to live for some time and learn how to walk.  The shawl also has some sort of magic mystique because it manages to hide Magda.  Magda helps out her cause by staying quiet.  "Then Stella took away the shawl and made Magda die. When Stella steals Magda's shawl she runs or hobbles in search of it and manages to get taken by a Nazi soldier when Rosa goes to get the shawl for her.  The shawl's magic runs out when it's not with Magda and Magda dies.  While I really don't think the shawl was 'magic' I do believe there was some mystique to it.  It was a little safety blanket that made Rosa feel better about Magda. Stella was definitely jealous of Magda and her magic shawl.  I think Stella was extremely jealous of the love and care that Rosa gave to Magda and she just wanted to feel some of that affection.  I don't think that Stella went about things the right way and I don't think she caused the death of Magda it was definitely just a bad coincidence.  She was just searching for a bit of protection and safety for herself.  In the concentration camps you never know when your time is going to be up, so I think Stella was just looking for something to make herself feel better about everything.