Journal 17: The Story of Ten Days

For us began the ten days both outside world and time.

What an end to a struggle for survival! When I decided to do this blog as part of my English assignment, it took me a long time to come up with an appropriate name. Somehow, the concept of betrayal of humanity seemed to connect with the plot, and I decided to go firm on it. After having completed the text, I realize how appropriate and exact it was. Humanity was not only betrayed, but throttled at Auschwitz. Even the last ten days saw separations from friends and companions, even in the form of death. Had I undergone this experience, I would have definitely gone demented since I know my limitations and am aware that I would neither have been able to end my life, nor bear this trauma. After having colncluded the book, I wonder why Hitler had to stoop to such a low level. Was racial superiority a justified criterion to annihilate an entire race? The end also brings back memories of the beginning, when children and women were also slaughtered. Was it right to end so many innocent lives? The whole story and plot has made me think how lucky and fortunate I am to be living in a politically stable world, and in a protective cocoon. This story just showed a glimpse of the harsh world that rests outside, and it definitely is horrifying. truly, Survival in Auschwitz was a feat that few could accomplish...and Levi very succesfully did. He survived perhaps, the most tormenting and traumatic experience ever in the pages of history !

Journal 16: The Last One

To destroy a man is difficult, almost as difficult to create one: it has not been easy, nor quick, but you Germans have succeeded.

In my opinion, this is perhaps the most powerful quote in the entire text. As the story draws towards its end, Levi brings up the theme of the measure of a man, which complies with the original title of the story, "If this be a man..." The creation and evolution of Man has been an intricate process. However,on the contrary shattering the divine image we all have been created in is extremely simple. The Germans did exactly the same and succeeded in crushing out the spark of both, divinity and life from all the detainees at Auschwitz. The chapter begins with a description of how the menaschka was a symbol of superiority and how a sense of reputation had to be won over by futile and ridiculous efforts such as the menaschka. In normal human society, reputation and prestige is accorded on the basis of your acts and purity of one's thoughts. At Auschwitz, everything was different. A man was recognized, not for who he was, but for what he was. The perception of attributes of a person had degraded to the extent that wrong and flawed judgements about a person were made !

Journal 15: Die drei Leute vom Labor

This year has gone by so quickly.
Truly, Time and Tide wait for none. Time transcends any parameter, and even the sufferings at Auschwitz transitioned through seasons. This particular chapter highlights how time has passed at Auschwitz. From the first chapter to the fifteenth, the plot has come a long way charting Levi's journey from the winter he was detained to the winter when the Russian offensive against the Germans has begun. The complete transition of one year shows the change in Levi’s existence as a human and how it has degraded over time. Another interesting portion of the plot that appealed to me personally was Levi's selection as a chemist, which eventually saves his life. What is most ironic is the German idea of segregation that is evident here as well! They manipulate a person's skills to their advantage. Yet, at the grassroots levels, they continue to torment the person placing him amidst envy and so many negative vibes. Which one of you can survive with so many negative feelings being generated around you all the time? What I found most ironic is Alberto’s reaction, which was devoid of any jealousy or malice. This was probably his survival mechanism- to retain his humane attributes, even in such grim moments of his life. This shows the deeper meaning of the word Survival, which is not only limited to physical survival, but also spiritual and moral survival when a person's complete existence is put to test.

Journal 14: Kraus

Memory is a curious instrument: ever since I have been in the camp, two lines written by a friend of mine a long time agio have been running through my mind: '...Until one day there will be no more sense in saying tomorrow.'
Personally, I would not agree with this statement. In my opinion, optimism is something vital to one's existence. Optimism helps you sustain yourself when circumstances are against you, and everything seems like a whirlwind with you at the centre. However, in retrospect, I do not think Levi was wrong in his judgement, after taking into account the prevalent circumstances and the conditions they dwelt in. After having lost everything one valued including one's individuality, it is but obvious that a sense of pessimism would creep in. Yet, had Levi tried to realize that God was with him even in the most dire occassions, and that he was not alone in his struggle, probably his stay at Auschwitz could have been made simpler.
In this chapter, a new character is introduced: Kraus. Kraus is an innocent and gullible person, who labours and toils, with the belief that it was "honest and logical to work." Levi introduces various characters in his book, and though they may be present for a short period of time, they have a definite impact on the reader's mind. After Kuhn's disgusting outlook in the previous chapter, and other characters including Alberto and Lorenzo, Kraus adds another dimension to this melange of various human attributes. His innocence sustained itself even through this tribulation, and this is what made him significantly different from the rest of the detainees at Auschwitz.

Journal 13 : October 1944

If I was God, I would spit at Kuhn’s prayer.
Chapter 13 elucidates the trauma and the suspense of the Selekcja, the selection for those who would be put to death in the Concentration Camp. Levi, through fantastic use of words and expression elevates the intensity of this situation. He starts with the coming of a painful winter, and the arrival of “hunger, fear, pain, and tiredness.” This soon escalates into the Selekja. To further intensify the situation, Levi approaches the topic in a slow manner, which adds an element of suspense. He progresses with “brisk elastic” steps, trying to “hold his head high.” It is impossible to even think about his mental ordeal. Under the protection of our parents, friend and teachers, we often never have to face the harsh realities of life. For Levi, he had to face a reality that would decide the direction of his life. This reality was Death, itself. Even the thought of Death petrifies each one of us and in the book, millions of Jews had to undergo this suffering and agony, unaware of what the future and destiny had in store for them. Yet, as Levi himself says, he “lived through the great selection of October 1944 with inconceivable tranquility.” This evoked a feeling of respect and awe in my mind. To retain one’s composure when one’s life is at stake is definitely a trait few would possess. In many aspects, as states, the detainees at Auschwitz were below standards of humanity. Yet this not only excluded them from being ordinary humans, but placed them way above each one of us. Despite this, people like Kuhn also formed part of Auschwitz. Kuhn’s prayer that was completely senseless and repugnant showed how man only bothered about his selfish motives at Auschwitz. Levi’s remark about Kuhn’s prayer is true to a very large extent, since God listens to prayers that are sincere, selfless and devoted, and none of these three were present in Kuhn’s prayer.

Journal 12 : The Events of Summer

But Lorenzo was a man; his humanity was pure and uncontaminated, he was outside this world of negotiation.
Levi finally answers the question that has recurred numerous times in his book: Who is a man? In the chaotic hierarchy at Auschwitz, the answer to this question was impossible to attain. The SS officials were too barbaric and ridden with lust, corruption and avarice to be called men, in the true sense of the term. They were sadists who derived pleasure from the pain of others. The detainees had forgotten about the basic instincts and emotions that constituted a man. Yet, among them was Lorenzo, a person who had retained his selflessness and pure nature, and was a man in its true sense. This is in some aspects to Marc Antony’s description of Brutus in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar: “This was the noblest Roman of them all. All the conspirators save only he-- did that they did in envy of great Caesar; He, only in general honest thought-- and common good to all, made one of them. His life was gentle, and the elements so mixed in him that Nature might stand up-- And say to all the world, 'This was a man!” Lorenzo exemplified the true essence of mankind. Even though he himself was in mental turmoil detained at Auschwitz, he helped Levi by giving him a piece of bread and the remainder of his ration everyday for six months, as well as sending a postcard on Levi’s behalf to Italy. This altruism was something unique in circumstances where everyone seemed to be competing with one another, and attempting to run each other down.
Another idea conveyed in this chapter is that of the golden rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” The Germans had made Auschwitz worse than the grim environs of Tartarus, and the retribution for this came in the form of the bombings by the Allied troops during World War II. This is made clear in the following quote from the book: “At Buna the German civilians raged with the fury of the secure man who wakes up from a long dream of domination and sees his own ruin and is unable to understand it.” The presumption of the Germans had finally been shattered. They had to now pay the price for the torment and torture they had inflicted on the Jews !

Journal 11: The Canto of Ulysses

'And over our heads the hollow seas closed up."

"The Canto of Ulysses" is a section from Dante's "Divine Comedy." The chapter provides a sense of respite from the otherwise morbid details of the book, and the rigours at Auschwitz. It also shows Levi's keen sense of patriotism, and is rather interesting to note how it has sustained itself even through the dire struggles of Auschwitz. He alludes to the magnificence of the mountains at Turin and how memories of them were evoked in his mind. Being in a foreign culture myself, and staying away from my homeland, I fully understand the trauma going on in Levi’s mind even though I have not undergone any of the struggles at Auschwitz. Probably Levi intends to evoke a feeling of empathy not for himself, but for all the detainees at Auschwitz. Even though this particular chapter does fall out of place in the text, it is extremely interesting to see his patriotism and pride in his country’s literary production, as well as the feeling of nostalgia that overcame him. For me, this chapter is significant cause it shows what actually remained of a man, after he had virtually been stripped of everything and been reduced to the status of a number. It clearly highlights the strength of one’s culture which is such a deeply engrained idea that it sustained itself even through the tumult at Auschwitz !

Journal 10 : Chemical Examination

I already know the Lager well enough to realize that one should not never anticipate , especially optimistically. In Greek myth, when Pandora opened the box of troubles and released all the human miseries within it, she also released another integral aspect of human life, when she opened it the second time: HOPE. I do not know to what extent this myth may be true. Yet, I am sure that any darkness of misery and gloom has a ray of hope that though bleak will eventually bring light into this darkness. However, after reading the book, I realized that at Auschwitz, even Hope seemed to be elusive and impossible to attain. The Chemical examination was a decisive turning point in the lives of every one taking it. This would lead them to a bifurcation, where one path would lead to redemption while the other would lead them back to where they started from. Despite this, there was an affirmative aspect if they did clear it. However, after having seen and experienced only sorrow and grave disappointments at Auschwitz, Levi did not want to seek temporary comfort in a dream that may have possible led to complete disbelief in one’s ideas, once it was shattered. This chapter is significant, since it is this Chemical Examination that shall eventually make Levi a Survivor of Auschwitz. Levi also says that while writing the book, he still could not get himself to believe the events that unfolded. This shows how utopian the chances of survival seemed, and if one did it was a fact of complete disbelief.

Journal 09: The Drowned and the Saved

We believe, rather that, that the only conclusion to be drawn is that in the face of driving necessity and physical disabilities many social habits and instincts are reduced to silence.
The book was originally titled, “If this is a man.” Throughout the story recurrence of this theme can be seen, as the reader explores the true nature of human existence and moral values. Is mere physical existence the definition of a man, or is it on the basis of a higher and more superior, spiritual and emotional level? At Auschwitz, men were stripped of their dignity, memories and very fundamental human rights. Even though physically they had still sustained themselves, their emotions had been choked. If this is what you call a man, my friend, you are sadly mistaken. Such a state is worse than our primitive ancestors or the apes we have descended from, for a man is defined by his emotional perception of life, and for his dignity and self esteem. When all this is completely crushed, all that remains is the body, a cage for the soul that yearns for emancipation. Survival at Auschwitz was a persistent struggle to save oneself from being lost in entirety and to preserve the remaining iota of humanity present in oneself. It was an unrelenting struggle, since everyone was alone and had to compete for survival, keeping one’s knowledge of a special method to oneself. Survival meant a fierce competition, where one’s individuality was more superior to oneself, in contrast to a collaborative effort. On the contrary, there were people who submitted themselves to the ordain at Auschwitz, and followed whatever was told to them. They formed the drowned component, and could not be saved. This also shows the belief systems of the detainees. While some chose to adapt their beliefs to their circumstances, others obliterated every belief they had.
This whole concept of the “Measure of a Man,” brings to my mind the lyrics from a song of the same name by Clay Aiken. Even though the remaining stanzas may be an ode to love, this particular section shows that humanity is about clutching on to one’s belief systems, whether it be with respect to love, religion, education or any other strata of life.
He never gives up
Let's go of his dreams
His world goes around
For his one true belief
Is that how you know?
Is that what it means?

Journal 8: This Side of Good and Evil

We now invite the reader to contemplate the possible meaning in the Lager of the words ‘good’ and ‘evil’, ‘just’ and ‘unjust’; let everybody judge, on the basis of the picture we have outlined and of the examples given above, how much of our ordinary moral world could survive in this side of the barbed wire.
Every human has been created on the foundation of a moral fibre. For some, this moral fibre might be weak and for others, it may be the strongest trait of their character. At Auschwitz, people with diverse moralities could be seen. Detainees like Alberto possessed uncorrupted minds, and while every one else’s morality dwindled, Alberto did not lose to circumstances and retained his peace loving, and strong-minded temperament. In contrast to Alberto were the SS guards who maintained a ridiculous, hypocritical nature. While theft in the Buna was encouraged by the SS, theft in the camp was suppressed severely.
Also, the occurrence of thefts at Auschwitz adds another dimension to Auschwitz that has been present throughout, but not discussed in a strong sense, the perception of God and Faith. In my opinion, even though the Jews may have different religious or spiritual beliefs, they still possess a similar code of conduct, and base their beliefs on a set of ethics and values. By committing the sin of theft, they made a compromise with their faith. Keeping in mind the dismal conditions, they were living in; stealing may have been a way to survive. Yet, they could have stood up to their faith and belief systems, and abstained from stealing. Even though the living conditions may have been different on both sides of the barbed wire, the truth is God was present on both sides and watched over everyone. This reveals the intrinsic complexity of human life and thoughts. It also shows what Auschwitz had reduced them to. Previously men pursuing honorable professions, they had to now steal to sustain themselves. It is believed that Man has been created in the image of God. Yet, Auschwitz throttled this divine spark, denying them the basic rights of humanity, and reducing them to a state that can definitely not be called “human.”

These battered hand are all you own
This broken heart has turned to stone
Go hang your glory on the wall
There comes a time when castles fall
And all that's left is shifting in the sand
You're out of time, you're out of place
Look at your face
That's the measure of a man~ The Measure of a Man by Elton John (Available on the soundtrack of Rocky Balboa)

Journal 7: A Good Day

Whenever some one asks me about my goal in life, my mind goes blank. What is my purpose in life? To which destination shall this path of life lead me to? Such questions often arise in my mind, and the answer is something I have still not been able to find. Primo Levi makes an excellent point about a purpose in human lives is an integral aspect of human existence. For Primo Levi and the detainees at Auschwitz, their only purpose was to see Spring, as he says on Page 71, “Today, in this place, our only purpose is to reach Spring.” It is amazing to see the zeal to survive in Levi’s mind. This chapter is an example of use of various symbols, and the two main symbols that can be seen in the text are Spring, and the colours, Grey and Green. The first symbol seen in the chapter is the season of Spring. In the story, spring connotes an idea of transitioning from one period to another, not only with respect to the natural environment, but also with respect to a change in outlook from being negative to being affirmative. Spring brought with itself, “A Good Day” for the detainees at Auschwitz, something they had been yearning for. Spring also marks a change in time, showing how seasons had elapsed since Levi’s arrival at Auschwitz. Another symbol used is the reference to the colours, Green and Grey. Green has been used to describe the lushness of the meadows, while grey has been used to describe the morose environs of the camp at Auschwitz. Rather than using black or white to describe Auschwitz, the use of the colour, Grey is a brilliant alliteration that adds depth to the contrast between the two, since despite they may phonetically be similar, their meanings are antitheses of each other. These two colors also contrast the grim nature of Auschwitz with the world outside its boundaries. While one side was like a prison, the other basked in the radiance of liberty.

Journal 6: The Work

This particular section of the novel, though short, was rather significant to me since it conveyed the author’s intention in writing this novel. Referring to the story of Resnyk, a Pole, Levi says, “He told me his story, and today I have forgotten it, but it was certainly a sorrowful, cruel and moving story; because so are all our stories, hundreds of thousands of stories, all different and full of tragic, disturbing necessity.” Primo Levi, though this work wants to ensure that the story of the struggles at Auschwitz should transcend any parameter of time, and should be reckoned with by generations to come. Levi intends to show the brutality of life at Auschwitz and how it was a poignant struggle for dignity and humanity, an unimaginable nightmare and above all, a story of human survival in conditions impossible to sustain one self in. The name of the chapter, “The Work” was not only labour of the body, but labour of the soul as well. While they had to struggle physically to cope with life at the Lager, their mind and soul had to toil to provide determination and resilience in dark hours of struggle, when all hope seemed to have faded out. Retaining the personal touch in his story, Levi describes his feeling of nostalgia, and his yearning to go back home. He also talks about how he wished he could cry and confront the wind with equal fortitude as before, unlike present times, where he had been reduced to the level of a servile dog. These expressions in the language further intensify the depths of the trauma in the author’s mind, and thus, help the reader connect with the author.
This particular song by Josh Groban from the movie, Troy, in my opinion carries a very strong message, similar to Levi's book with the essence of remembrance and memories of undying struggles, whether it be the Trojan War or Survival in Auschwitz.

Journal 5: Our Nights

Let me ask you a question. Which is the period of the day when you feel calm and at rest, with no worries? Well, for me, it without doubt, is when I am lost in the world of slumber and dreams. Whenever I am perturbed or extremely disturbed, I seek solace in the world of dreams. However, the Jews detained at Auschwitz were deprived of even this consolation. Chapter 5 of the book explores adjustment at Auschwitz, and how even their dreams were an experience of dread. Every night, when Levi went to sleep he was haunted by his experience at Auschwitz. The motif of sleep as an experience of peace recurs yet again. In contrast to the Ka-be, where sleep was relatively peaceful, in the Lager, the nightmare seemed to return like a chimera that shattered even the slightest iota of peace and tranquility. This worsened the process of adjusting to life at the Lager, an experience that was far more horrifying than the nightmare, itself.
Human civilization has been a struggle for adaptation and adjustment. I distinctly remember my first days in Korea, when I had to adjust to an alien culture amongst people I did not know. I preferred to stay by myself, and enjoyed supposed “solitary bliss.” On Page 56, Levi says “Man’s capacity to dig himself in, to secrete a shell, to build around himself a tenuous barrier of defence, even in apparently desperate circumstances, is astonishing and merits a serious study.” This particular statement concocts an image of a butterfly weaving a cocoon around itself. Likewise, we humans tend to form a “cocoon” around ourselves to adjust. We consider this delirium of our own little world to be our defence mechanism, thinking that till we venture out of it, we shall be shielded from anything that might hurt us. However, after being discharged from the Ka-be, one was exposed to the harshness of life at Auschwitz, after having being shielded from it temporarily. Even though the detainees at Auschwitz sought solace in the Ka-be, they failed to see how it would increase their pain and suffering. Before going to the Ka-be, they were accustomed to a rigorous life of labor. After a brief rest from this, adjusting to such a drastic change was extremely difficult. The cocoon that we decide to take shelter in was also impossible to form, since life at Auschwitz denied the Jews both, emotions and time to even think of protecting oneself or one’s dignity.

Journal 4: Ka-Be

The picture alongside shows the Krankenbau, the infirmary at Aushwitz. To an ordinary person, the Ka-be, as it was called, may appear to be an ordinary building of bricks and mortar used to house patients. However, to the inmates at Auschwitz, the Ka-Be had many dimensions. Chapter 5, Ka-be, delves into these dimensions and how the Ka-be was perceived among the inmates at Auschwitz. Primo Levi describes the Ka-be as the Lager without its physical discomforts. This implies that the Ka-be was in fact, in many aspects, similar to the Lager. The suppression of human dignity occurred in the Ka-be as well, when the patients were asked to undress before going for their inspection. In the Ka-be too, humans are segregated and divided, where only the ones who are healthy and can be of use to the Germans were treated, while the ones who suffered from chronic illnesses were put to death in the crematoriums or the concentration camps. Levi uses the symbol of sleep to connote a sense of peace. When Levi talks about the crematoriums, Schmulek, a Polish Jew, in an irritated mood enquires whether a person could at least sleep in peace. This was a premonition for the future, when Schmulek is sent to the crematorium, and put to death. Thus, the peace he wanted through physical sleep was attained after his death in the form of ethereal rest that liberated him from all the pain and torture of Auschwitz. Even though the Ka-be was a break from the dreadfulness of Auschwitz, it did not mark the end. The patients had to return to the routine life of disgust at Auschwitz, where they were treated in the most inhuman way.Such degradation of respect for human brethren is not only ridiculous, but horrifying as well. Today, we lead lives in our protective cocoons sheltered from the harsh realities of the world. This is an element of Levi’s style of writing that appeals to me the most. Throughout the story, numerous personal connections can be made that shake the foundation of our beliefs. Not even in the worst of my nightmares could I have imagines the treatment of human beings in such a mortifying manner.

Journal 03: Initiation

With due apologies to President Bush, is it not hillarious to see how a man can be likened to a Chimpazee? Imagine yourself dwelling on trees, prancing and leaping around as uncivilized and uncouth apes? Place yourself in a scenario where health and hygiene shall be totally insignificant, and you shall be the God of messiness in the Human pantheon. Let us now deviate from this comic mood, to delve into the depths of what characterizes us as humans, and what separates us from our primitive ancestors.
The evolution of Man from apes has been a transition, which has been physical, emotional as well as, spiritual. From being an arboreal resident, Man descended to Earth, learning to crawl on four feet and then walk on two. He has learned to walk erect, clean himself and think for himself. Man has walked down time, quelling the barbaric nature od his predecessors, developing a sense of compassion and love. After ages of fighting as uncivilized tribes, Man sought to establish peace and accept unity, by seeking solace in one force, God. Even though the processs has been gradual and slow, Man has evolved from fundamental levels to assume the form he exists in today. Forgetting the essence of this advent of civilization is completely detrimental to who you are as a human. This leads me to my quote, "We must walk erect, without dragging our feet, not in homage to Prussian discipline but to remain alive, not begin to die."
This statement reveals the intrinsic nature of human existence. By taking a bath, or washing your hands before eating, you are not only doing yourself a favour, but retaining the attributes that make you human. Not only this, by bowing down to some one else's dictates and ideas, you are annihilating the spark of struggle that has been a key to our existence. Even in the dire circumstances at Auschwitz, this was the key to survival : to be human, even when every one around you was inhuman !

Journal 02: On the Bottom...

"Imagine now a man who is deprived of everyone he loves, and at the same time of his house, his clothes, in short, of everything he possesses: he will be a hollow man, reduced to suffering and needs, forgetful of dignity and restraint, for he who loses all often easily loses himself. He will be a man whose life and death can be lightly decided with no sense of human affinity, in the most fortunate of cases, on the basis of a pure judgement of utility. It is in this way that one can understand the double sense of the term "extermination camp", and it is now clear what we seek to express by the phrase "to lie on the bottom"



Ode to a Häftling
Imprisoned and shackled, I stand today,
For a faith I reckoned with, such a grave price to pay,
Deprived of humanity, I am neither man nor beast,
But a Jew, on which greed and ambition shall feast
Reduced to a number, devoid of identity,
I know not who I am or what I may be.
The people I called my own,
Are rendered meek, with none to weep or moan.
Parched and dry, in body and soul,
In my mind, lies no aspiration or goal.
Mocked I am, I know not why
Neither the will to live, nor the strength to die.
Why doth liberty hide from me,
And redeem me from this captivity?
Blood oozes out, but not by mortal gashes to me,
My mind bleeds, yearning to be set free…
Ah! What is that sound piercing my ear,
Companion to sorrow and fear….
What is that descending down the stars, in the night sky?
An aura, gleaming, blinding my eye,
A light, gold and pure, smiling, beckoning me,
I realize I am now free,
The divine summon hath arrived,
The moment, for which I had strived.
I now walk towards my guardian,
In search of my destination,
Beyond this Earth and cosmos,
Into a world that shines and glows,
Without any prejudice or hollow views,
Where I am me, not a Häftling or Jew…

Journal 01 : The Journey

The first chapter of the novel, as the name implies, marks the beginning of a journey where humanity will eventually fade into oblivion, and the existence of numerous Jews shall be annihilated completely.
The chapter delves into how the author and his companions are arrested by the Fascist militia, and how their journey begins after their deportation to Auschwitz in Germany. A key idea revealed in the first paragraph is how racism had compelled the author, Primo Levi to lead a life of delirium, dwelling in hallucinations of a life with "sincere male and bloodless female friendships." The thought of seeking solace in such utopic ideas clearly indicates how prevalent trends in society were a complete betrayal for him. Levi further elaborates on this notion by talking of a world inhabited by "civilized cartesian phantoms" - alluding to the philosophy of French philosopher, René Descartes (1596-1650). Descartes' Cogito Ergo Sum (I Think, therefore I am), underlines the essence of existence. Ironically, as the storyline progresses, their thoughts and subsequently, their existence is obliterated, both, physically and emotionally.
A prominent theme of the first chapter is the idea of punishment without having committed any wrongdoing or crime. Primo Levi elucidates this by comparing the state of the Jews going to Auschwitz to a criminal, who has been sentenced to death, and how the death penalty reveals to him that "all passions and anger have died down," and the death sentence, is merely a means of enforcing justice, and for the welfare of society. It therefore provides a sense of acceptance and signifies a sense of "spiritual comfort." However, for Levi and his fellow companions, this was futile since they had not done anything wrong to be punished for.
The style of writing is extremely vivid, with attention to fine details and exemplary use of imagery and symbols. The sentence, “And night came, and it was such a night that one knew that human eyes would not witness it and survive,” elevates the intensity of the poignancy and the trauma of the Jews. Levi also tries to induce a train of thought in the readers’ minds by asking questions seen in the following section from the chapter, “Would you not do the same? If you and your child were going to be killed tomorrow, would you not give him to eat today?” Through these questions, Levi establishes personal connections between the story and the reader. Even though today, the suffering is unimaginable for us, these questions evoke a strong feeling of sympathy and pain in the reader.
Primo Levi also makes fantastic use of symbols. By comparing dawn to a betrayer, he shows how their life was in fact a race against time. In the concluding paragraph alluding to Greek mythology, he compares the German soldier in their lorry to Charon, the ferryman of Hades who ferried dead bodies across the river Styx. Thus, Primo Levi and his companions were being led to imminent doom. Levi plays close attention to details of language by incorporating elements of German, such as Wieviel Stuck, and geographical details, such as the names of various places they traveled through, thereby making the story more realistic and accurate.
The first chapter thus, sets the stage for the remaining story to unfurl. The journey into torture and angst had just begun….

Auschwitz: The Nazis and the 'Final Solution'

Auschwitz…The very utterance of this word creates a sense of fear in my mind. Imagine being tortured to death in a concentration camp, or being wrenched apart from you beloved ones! The pain and anguish in Auschwitz is beyond one’s imagination. However, the bitter truth is that people did survive this tribulation, by maintaining their determination and zeal to survive. The movie shows glimpses of life in that “Factory of Death”, with experiences being narrated by the survivors of this painful ordeal. These survivors yearned, not only for food but also, human love, as one of them clearly says, “We were not only starved for food, but also, starved for human kindness.” How could mankind be reduced to such a drastic state of moral chaos, when the value of emotions, values and ethics was completely obliterated? Children were used as “guinea pigs”, where various laboratory experimental procedures were investigated on them, annihilating the innocence and bliss of childhood. Women were scorched to death in gas chambers, while men who were not, toiled their way to death. “Walking through this nightmare…”Do you think any of us would have the fortitude to deal with such a morbid environment around ourselves or with the threat of death constantly pursuing us? The movie successfully portrays the poignancy and the trauma of the victims of Auschwitz, and evokes a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow in the viewer’s mind. Devoid of any propaganda or bias, the movie is an honest depiction of the true circumstances at Auschwitz, when Germany, under Hitler embarked on the largest mass murder in the history of mankind. This entire struggle to live can be summarized in a quote from the movie, “In a semi conscious state of mind, I would tell myself, and “I need to survive.”” Herein lies the essence of survival which is an accomplishment of only those, with true strength and purity in their minds…