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.