Chapter one was mainly about Primo Levi’s journey to Auschwitz. He was captured by the Fascist Militia and sent to a camp. Soon, he was transported to Auschwitz. Throughout his journey, he suffered from thirst and cold. When he finally arrived at Auschwitz, he faced German soldiers who were in “in subdued tone of voice, with faces of stone” (17).
As I read the chapter one, the first thing I’ve noticed was how cruel and inhumane the Germany soldiers were portrayed. I could not find any sign of emotions or feelings from them. The Nazis killed children and randomly sent people to gas chambers. Even they beat a person for taking time to say good-bye to his fiancée. How could be one turned into a man of no sympathy and no compassion?
It was bitter to notice how Primo Levi described prisoners. He used a word “dust” to describe how small and unimportant the prisoners were. By the author’s style of narration, I could almost feel the same silence and fear that existed during his “journey.” The journey in which no one knew where the destination was. The journey of no purpose, no hope and no desire. When Primo Levi described Auschwitz as a meaningless name which was nothing more than a place on earth, I was chocked with grief and sympathy. Being treated like a mere object, he saw neither meaning of life nor desire to live.
Memorable Quotes:
“I preferred to admit my status as ‘Italian citizen of Jewish race’” (13).
“If you and your child were going to be killed tomorrow, would you not give him to eat today?” (15).
“Dawn came on us like a betrayer; it seemed as though the new sun rose as an ally of our enemies to assist in our destruction” (16).
“Sooner or later in life everyone discovers that perfect happiness is unrealizable, but there are few who pause to consider the antithesis: the perfect unhappiness is equally unattainable” (17).
“Auschwitz: a name without significance for us at that time, but it at least implied some place on this earth” (17).
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Journal #0: After watching the movie...
As an introductory lesson for Survival in Auschwitz, I watched a documentary on what would have been like to live in Auschwitz during the Holocaust. The documentary focused on life of people in Auschwitz and presented some shocking facts. After watching the movie, the persecution and extermination of Jews became more real to me and I was terrified.
The movie called Auschwitz the “factory of death.” This phrase frustrated me because it showed lack of humanity. If one was to call Auschwitz the “factory of death,” it indicates that death of a person in Auschwitz was nothing more than a “thing.” A person was not considered as being alive, but rather as an object. He/she did not have any human rights. This really tormented me.
In the documentary, one of the survivals from a ghetto during the Holocaust said that one could not trust anyone in the ghetto because others would use whatever that is for their advantages. This remark really saddened me. If one could not trust anyone, how lonesome and despairing would he/she be? I cannot even imagine what would have been like to live in a place of inhumanity. I mean, even today, I sometimes feel desperate and torn apart because I cannot find compassion and grace among people. It is mentally and emotionally very hard to not being able to trust someone.
Also, another survival said, “There was no God in Auschwitz because it was such a horrible condition that God chose not to go in.” This quote struck me. I wanted to ask questions: why didn’t God do something about the Holocaust? Why didn’t He stop it? The entire concept of exterminating specific ethnic group was against God’s will, His words and His love, wasn’t it?
As I watched the documentary, I realized that the Holocaust was just about 60 years ago. It was a reality! And some people still suffer from the horrible memory. It was such a disastrous event that mankind should not forget. Also, it should not be ever repeated. Never, never, never...
The movie called Auschwitz the “factory of death.” This phrase frustrated me because it showed lack of humanity. If one was to call Auschwitz the “factory of death,” it indicates that death of a person in Auschwitz was nothing more than a “thing.” A person was not considered as being alive, but rather as an object. He/she did not have any human rights. This really tormented me.
In the documentary, one of the survivals from a ghetto during the Holocaust said that one could not trust anyone in the ghetto because others would use whatever that is for their advantages. This remark really saddened me. If one could not trust anyone, how lonesome and despairing would he/she be? I cannot even imagine what would have been like to live in a place of inhumanity. I mean, even today, I sometimes feel desperate and torn apart because I cannot find compassion and grace among people. It is mentally and emotionally very hard to not being able to trust someone.
Also, another survival said, “There was no God in Auschwitz because it was such a horrible condition that God chose not to go in.” This quote struck me. I wanted to ask questions: why didn’t God do something about the Holocaust? Why didn’t He stop it? The entire concept of exterminating specific ethnic group was against God’s will, His words and His love, wasn’t it?
As I watched the documentary, I realized that the Holocaust was just about 60 years ago. It was a reality! And some people still suffer from the horrible memory. It was such a disastrous event that mankind should not forget. Also, it should not be ever repeated. Never, never, never...
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