In historical fiction, authors use the genre to give readers insight into a member of a past society , thus making it possible to establish a link between them and this past society. . However, Anthony Doerr, author of All the Light We Cannot See, uses this genre differently by allowing the reader to discover not just one member of a past society, but two. By presenting the reader with opposing narratives of two coinciding war-riddled lives, Doerr allows the reader to express their own opinions on the efforts presented to them, rather than leaving their chosen opinions in their place. In All the Light We Cannot See, Anthony Doerr redefines the definition of a hero and a villain by creating the story of two innocent children on opposing sides of World War II. To do this, Doerr creates a realistic novel using character characterization and interaction, the theme of war tragedy, and the symbolic nature of radio to commemorate the memories of World War II before they fade away. turn into a story, which makes writing easier overall. a bestselling historical fiction novel. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original EssayIn the genre of historical fiction, most of the time, Germany is portrayed as the evil aggressor of the war. By ignoring Germany's true character and portraying it as an evil tyrannical monster, most historical fiction authors portray Germany poorly. This type of writing is described by Kevin Vanzant when he describes: "The author's scope can seem quite limited and even dishonest if he seems to claim a measure of objectivity which for many is no longer possible ". However, in All the Light We Cannot See, Doerr modifies these norms by creating sympathy in the reader through one of the main characters, Werner. In the novel, Doeer characterizes Werner when he writes: “He is small, his ears are pricked, and he speaks in a high, soft voice; the whiteness of her hair stops people in their tracks. Snowy, milky, chalky” (Doerr 24). This depiction shows how, in the novel, the two main characters are depicted through their similar experience of losing their youthful innocence due to war, but their status as enemies in the war clearly separates them. By having two protagonists on opposite sides of the war, Doerr distorts the definition of hero and villain; furthermore, leaving it ambiguous so that readers can express their own opinions. Doerr's authentic account of the past shows certain moral and mental developments within the novel that the two protagonists face, such as Werner's disloyalty to the fascists, which overall offers a more complicated portrait of heroes and villains. Towards the end of the novel, it is clear that seeing the struggles that the victims of the war will face, such as the rebuilding of Saint-Malo, the reader will likely overlook the trauma and guilt that the attackers of the war will also have to face . This is mainly seen in Jutta's life after World War II, where she struggles to live with her German identity. However, Jutta was not alone in feeling the immense guilt that comes with having the identity of a German, as Gilad Margalit proves when he states: "As knowledge of the Nazi crime became spread and as the understanding of the depth of the guilt increased, so did the difficulty of recognizing it. Jutta is not the only one to feel guilty for the actions.