“The news had immediate repercussions. All who illegally posseassed second shirts, stolen or organized, or even honestly bought with bread as a protection against the cold or to invest capital in a moment of prosperity, immediately rushed to the Exchange Market, hoping to arrive in time to barter their reserve shirts for food products before the flood of new shirts, or the certainity of their arrival, irreparably devalued the price of the article” (pg.78)
When we look at the world of Auschwitz, the existence of black market was extremely fundamental to the prisoners. We humans think that the black market is a negative thing because it is obviously illegal. However, when we place ourselves in the shoes of the Jews in the concentration camp at that time, we would have been devastated if the black market didn’t exist. When humans are situated at the edge of our lives, determining the matter of life or death, there is nothing to keep; even justice, morality, and even honesty disappears. It is human nature that all human beings on earth do fear our deaths.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
7. A Good Day
“Even our work seems light, with the prospect of four hot, dense pints waiting for us in the hut.” (p.76)
The chapter contains information about the rations and how this increase of rations gave such joy and hope inside the minds of the Jews. Through this, a positive attitude could be made among the Jews. Another thing that brought forth this positive attitude was the sunshine. Previously in other chapters, the sunshine was seen as something dreadful and also something that gave hope at the same time. In a negative attitude, the sunshine was something dreadful, a traitor, which brought them closer to death at dawn. On the other hand, with a positive attitude, the sunshine was something of hope, as the sky and sun were not restricted from the Jews. The limitless aspect of the sky and sun allowed the people in the concentration camps to grow a sense of hope that would help them last, at least until their death.
The chapter contains information about the rations and how this increase of rations gave such joy and hope inside the minds of the Jews. Through this, a positive attitude could be made among the Jews. Another thing that brought forth this positive attitude was the sunshine. Previously in other chapters, the sunshine was seen as something dreadful and also something that gave hope at the same time. In a negative attitude, the sunshine was something dreadful, a traitor, which brought them closer to death at dawn. On the other hand, with a positive attitude, the sunshine was something of hope, as the sky and sun were not restricted from the Jews. The limitless aspect of the sky and sun allowed the people in the concentration camps to grow a sense of hope that would help them last, at least until their death.
6. The Work
"Oh, if one could only cry! Oh, if one could only affront the wind as we once used to, on equal terms, and not as we do here, like cringing dogs.
We are outside and everyone picks up his lever. Renyk drops his head between his shoulders, pulls his beret over his ears and lifts his face up to the low grey sky where the inexorable snow swirls around: 'Si j'avey une chien, je ne le chasse pas dehors.' "
Chapter six basically illustrates the everyday harsh labour work in Auschwitz. Just reading the different situations of sufferings that Primo Levi had to go through emphasizes how lucky we are to be living in a world where everything would be a luxury, compared to the situations of concentration camps in WWII. Sometimes I whine and complain about the things that I have to confront everyday in my life. I dream of better things that I could have gotten especially when facing hardships and hard work from school. But when I think about the Jews who suffered through the concentration camps, I realize how stupid I am. Jews were like slaves to the SS soldiers. They needed permissions to do everything; permission to rest, permission to eat, permission to stop, permission to when to go to bed, and more. They were treated as if they were pets; pets with horrible cruel masters.
We are outside and everyone picks up his lever. Renyk drops his head between his shoulders, pulls his beret over his ears and lifts his face up to the low grey sky where the inexorable snow swirls around: 'Si j'avey une chien, je ne le chasse pas dehors.' "
Chapter six basically illustrates the everyday harsh labour work in Auschwitz. Just reading the different situations of sufferings that Primo Levi had to go through emphasizes how lucky we are to be living in a world where everything would be a luxury, compared to the situations of concentration camps in WWII. Sometimes I whine and complain about the things that I have to confront everyday in my life. I dream of better things that I could have gotten especially when facing hardships and hard work from school. But when I think about the Jews who suffered through the concentration camps, I realize how stupid I am. Jews were like slaves to the SS soldiers. They needed permissions to do everything; permission to rest, permission to eat, permission to stop, permission to when to go to bed, and more. They were treated as if they were pets; pets with horrible cruel masters.
5. Our Nights
" Alberto is my best friend...entered the Lager with his head high, and lives in here unscathed and uncorrupted. he understood before any of us that this life is war; he permitted himself no indulgences, he lost no time complaining and commiserating himself and with others, but entered the battle from the beginning. " (pg.57)
I personally thought that this quote related with me, because if I were in the same situation as Levi, I would be absolutely delighted to ahve such a friend as Alberto, who mangages to handle the situations really well. I thought that Levi was lucky to have such a friend. Saying of friends, I was honestly happy for Levi, because finding a "good" friend, is not something that easy. Friends mean a lot to me, more than anything else in the world. They worth much more than money, grades, and pleasures. Friends who care about you, encourages you when you feel down, cries when your tears fall down, handles hardships together, trusts one another, and respects and loves each other with all their heart.
I personally thought that this quote related with me, because if I were in the same situation as Levi, I would be absolutely delighted to ahve such a friend as Alberto, who mangages to handle the situations really well. I thought that Levi was lucky to have such a friend. Saying of friends, I was honestly happy for Levi, because finding a "good" friend, is not something that easy. Friends mean a lot to me, more than anything else in the world. They worth much more than money, grades, and pleasures. Friends who care about you, encourages you when you feel down, cries when your tears fall down, handles hardships together, trusts one another, and respects and loves each other with all their heart.
4. Ka-Be
Primo’s neighbor had the organic decay which was known to be the worst kind. Later he was lined up and taken away to a place one would not want to know where, but knows: the gas chambers. Of course the German soldiers would have not felt the obligation to keep the Jews alive and well for their well being. If they don’t heal, too bad; they are taken away to their deaths (the sooner the better for the Germans). If they heal, then good for them and back to work.[We were] killed in our spirit long before our anonymous death. No one must leave here and so carry to the world, together with the sign impressed on his skin, the evil tidings of what man’s presumption made of man in Auschwitz (pg.55)
Primo felt how much like animals they were treated. He started to question himself, “What makes a man?” Because in Auschwitz, he was not a man. He was lower than the status of a criminal. He was not even allowed to be in the brothels where criminals, especially the ones who give the Jews a difficult time, could go to. Because of how they were treated in Auschwitz, does that make Primo and all the other people of the “Jewish race” any less human than they really were.
Primo felt how much like animals they were treated. He started to question himself, “What makes a man?” Because in Auschwitz, he was not a man. He was lower than the status of a criminal. He was not even allowed to be in the brothels where criminals, especially the ones who give the Jews a difficult time, could go to. Because of how they were treated in Auschwitz, does that make Primo and all the other people of the “Jewish race” any less human than they really were.
3. Initiation
“…Steinlauf sees me and greets me, and without preamble asks me severely why I do not wash. Why should I wash? Would I be better off than I am? Would I please someone more? Would I live a day, an hour longer? I would probably live a shorter time, because to wash is an effort, a waste of energy and warmth. Does not Steinlauf know that after half an hour with the coal sacks every difference between him and me will have disappeared? (pg 40)”
Would being clean after using “effort and energy” would worth much better than resting for a while? It is clear that no one knows when the Jews are going to die. In Auschwitz, death is something that you would have to be afraid of every night, every day, and even every single breath you take. Future is always ambiguous in reality but it is much more obscure in the prison of Auschwitz. It is fearful because it is definitely unpredictable. No matter what, the prisoners had the possibility of encountering death anyways. However, they do not know when or how soon they would have to accept the situation. Thus, Levi’s point was miserable but it was the truth of reality. There was no existence of energy and time for the Jews to worry about their appearance, since only death was confronted with their lives.
Would being clean after using “effort and energy” would worth much better than resting for a while? It is clear that no one knows when the Jews are going to die. In Auschwitz, death is something that you would have to be afraid of every night, every day, and even every single breath you take. Future is always ambiguous in reality but it is much more obscure in the prison of Auschwitz. It is fearful because it is definitely unpredictable. No matter what, the prisoners had the possibility of encountering death anyways. However, they do not know when or how soon they would have to accept the situation. Thus, Levi’s point was miserable but it was the truth of reality. There was no existence of energy and time for the Jews to worry about their appearance, since only death was confronted with their lives.
2. On the Bottom
" And we have learnt other things, more or less quickly, according to our intelligence: to reply 'Jawohl', never to ask questions, always to pretend to understand. We have learnt the value of food; now we also diligently scrape the bottom of the bowl after the ration and we hold it under our chins when we eat bread so as not to lose the crumbs." (pg.33)
By reading this quote, I felt sympathy towards the jewish people. They had to suffer through so much humilation and disaster. If I were them, I would not be able to survive a single day. Not being able to do what you want, controlled and forced by soldiers would be a terrible humiliation to experience. They had to scrape the bottom of the bowl for food and only fill up their empty stomachs with crumbs. How much suffering do these people have to go through? As I read the book more and more, an aversion was created in my heart.
By reading this quote, I felt sympathy towards the jewish people. They had to suffer through so much humilation and disaster. If I were them, I would not be able to survive a single day. Not being able to do what you want, controlled and forced by soldiers would be a terrible humiliation to experience. They had to scrape the bottom of the bowl for food and only fill up their empty stomachs with crumbs. How much suffering do these people have to go through? As I read the book more and more, an aversion was created in my heart.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
1. The Journey
“Later, a simpler method was adopted that involved merely opening both doors on the train. Without warning or instruction to the new arrivals, those who by chance climbed down on one side of the convoy entered the camp; the others went to the gas chamber."(pg.20)
As a Jew, Levi knew he was in danger while living in fascist Northern Italy. By 1943, the Nazis had moved south and set up holding camps around Italy to detain political prisoners and those of the Jewish nationality until they could be transported to concentration camps such as Auschwitz and Dachau. This book depicts what happened to Levi after his arrest in 1944. Along with 650 others, he was loaded into a freight train for a four day journey without food or water and without the liberty to leave the train at anytime. The German SS Soldiers separated those they deemed capable of work from those they deemed incapable, such as women, children and elderly. Only 135 of the 650 from Levi’s train were admitted into Auschwitz, the other 515 went immediately to the gas chambers. The book was really new to me. I haven't read any book that vividly depicts such conditions of the death camps. Throughout the detailed chapters I was able to thoroughly understand and picture myself what death camp would be like.
As a Jew, Levi knew he was in danger while living in fascist Northern Italy. By 1943, the Nazis had moved south and set up holding camps around Italy to detain political prisoners and those of the Jewish nationality until they could be transported to concentration camps such as Auschwitz and Dachau. This book depicts what happened to Levi after his arrest in 1944. Along with 650 others, he was loaded into a freight train for a four day journey without food or water and without the liberty to leave the train at anytime. The German SS Soldiers separated those they deemed capable of work from those they deemed incapable, such as women, children and elderly. Only 135 of the 650 from Levi’s train were admitted into Auschwitz, the other 515 went immediately to the gas chambers. The book was really new to me. I haven't read any book that vividly depicts such conditions of the death camps. Throughout the detailed chapters I was able to thoroughly understand and picture myself what death camp would be like.
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Movie Reflection
After watching the video of Auschwitz concentration camp ..
Holocaust was the final solution, the extermination of Jews. The video created a hard emotional feeling in me. I learned about Holocaust and how the Jews were treated disorderly in the concentration camps, but I have never seen a video clip which actually showed interviews of people that actually lived in that time period. It was matter of life and death. Adults, elders, and children were afflicted with terrible endless agony. Video contained a lot of interviews of SS, German soldiers, and also Jews that suffered through devastating torture. I was stunned to visually see and listen to the different aspects of the people. First of all, I was outraged when SS claimed that they didn't feel guiltiness at all. They also stated that what they did was right when they recklessely perished millions and millions of innocent people for no reason other than the fact that they were Jews. I was scared to see that they didn't realize what they have done. I just wished their sins to never be forgiven. More surprisingly, the officer added that if there was something that he does regret, then it was the lack of time that he could've spent with his family. My mind went blank. There was no way for me to understand these imprudent and mindless people. I was grieved over how the Jews had suffered through this outrageous torture and massive killing.
Holocaust was the final solution, the extermination of Jews. The video created a hard emotional feeling in me. I learned about Holocaust and how the Jews were treated disorderly in the concentration camps, but I have never seen a video clip which actually showed interviews of people that actually lived in that time period. It was matter of life and death. Adults, elders, and children were afflicted with terrible endless agony. Video contained a lot of interviews of SS, German soldiers, and also Jews that suffered through devastating torture. I was stunned to visually see and listen to the different aspects of the people. First of all, I was outraged when SS claimed that they didn't feel guiltiness at all. They also stated that what they did was right when they recklessely perished millions and millions of innocent people for no reason other than the fact that they were Jews. I was scared to see that they didn't realize what they have done. I just wished their sins to never be forgiven. More surprisingly, the officer added that if there was something that he does regret, then it was the lack of time that he could've spent with his family. My mind went blank. There was no way for me to understand these imprudent and mindless people. I was grieved over how the Jews had suffered through this outrageous torture and massive killing.
Sunday, February 4, 2007
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