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).
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