Journal #14: Chapter 14

“Strange, how in some way one always has the impression of being fortunate, how some chance happening, perhaps infinitesimal, stops us crossing the threshold of despair and allows us to live” (131).

People always look for the slightest hope even in the most dreadful situation. For example, even though it was raining for more than ten days, Primo Levi thought that it was lucky that it was not windy. He was in such an unpleasant place, but he still looked for something that cheered him up. I think it is good to have hope even in very bad situation because hope gives strength to live. Hope enables people to go through hardships and allows them to live.

In the beginning of the chapter 14, Primo Levi wrote that “to have a dry rag would be positive happiness” (131). A dry rag… We don’t really think a dry rag as valuable. Since we have comfortable life, a dry rag is nothing more than a piece of old cloth for us. However, for Primo Levi, who had been wet for several days, a dry rag would as valuable as gold. Unlike us, he would actually prefer to have a dry rag than a piece of gold. When we are in a difficult situation, even a smallest thing that we used to ignore may seem like a treasure, because a lot times, our standard of value depends on our environment or situation.

Memorable Quotes:
“Strange, how in some way one always has the impression of being fortunate, how some chance happening, perhaps infinitesimal, stops us crossing the threshold of despair and allows us to live” (131).

“… until one day there will be no more sense in saying: tomorrow” (133).