Question

Analyze the way in which “Tattoo” by Gregg Shapiro is related to the issues of a historical time period.

Answer 1

The poem "Tatoo" by Greg Shapiro is about the experience of his father as a Holocaust victim in WWII and how he wishes he could have been the one to suffer and not his dad and how he and his dad are worlds apart due to how his dad suffered unimaginably. 

Answer 2

This poem depicts several findings that research unveiled pertaining to events occured to children of Holocaust survivors. Parents who are also Holocaust survivors often suffer the impact of the Holocaust their whole lives.  In "Tattoo," the speaker conveys the pain of being emotionally ditached from his or her father in spite of the fact of "wearing him like a cloak." Even though the speaker's father is physically present, the speaker feels that his or her father is withdrawn. Furthermore, research disclosed that parents who survided to the Holocaust generally fail to deal with the experiences they faced in the Holocaust.

In "Tattoo," the speaker also shows himself frustrated because  his or her father doesn't talk about the past. Yet, the weight of the past weighs down on both of them with or without words. Finally, children of Holocaust survivors tend to feel survivor's guilt because they failed to protect their parents. Likewise, the speaker of "Tattoo" conveys the desire to heal his or her father of the emotional wounds.