The Paris Architect

“Lucien hated the Germans with all his heart for what they did to his country. He cried the day of the surrender. But all that really mattered to him was that he and his wife were still alive.”

Initially, like the other Frenchmen, Lucien’s priorities lie in his own survival. He does nothing to save a Jewish man who is killed in front of him, which serves as a setup for the circumstances in which he will soon find himself.

“But what was happening to the Jews was a political matter that was out of his control, even if he thought it was unfair.” 

As a gentile, Lucien has the privilege of ignoring the plight of the Jewish people. While their oppression is a daily reality, to Lucien it is only an abstract political concept. As such, he can divorce himself from all sense of control and culpability.

“Granted, it was suicide to get involved in this. But… if it was done cleverly, maybe the Jew would never be discovered, no one would know of his involvement, and best of all, Lucien would make a huge amount of money plus get a big commission out of it.” 

Lucien’s initial refusal to take on the project of hiding a Jewish man is shaken as he considers the money he would make. Furthermore, the factory commission could be his chance for his “big break” in the architectural world.