9. The Drowned and the Saved

Thousands of individuals, differing in age, conition, origin, language, culture and customs, are enclosed within barbed wire: there they live a regular, controlled life which is identical for all and inadequate to all needs, and which is more rigorous than any experimenter could have set up to establish what is essentail and what adventitious to the conduct of the human animal in the struggle for life.

Alfred, Alias, and Schepschel were all survivors that were selfish and self-centered. They had no other choice but to be self-centered since there was no time to care and depend on each other. Some people in the camps cling on to their dignity, and some throw their humane side away in order to survive. Putting myself into their shoes, I would probably be a beast in order to survive and undergo such harsh treatments and conditions. When humans face desperate situations confronting death, they tend to do whatever it takes in order to survive. That's common sense, because no one wants to die. But unlike other Jews, Primo was quite different. His writings showed somewhat care and love towards other Jews. Being self-centered was common, but showing love and care was another possibility.