A major part of the camps was the dehumanizing of individuals. Those in authority used numbers instead of names for the prisoners and treated them as if they were not people. Despite all of that in addition to the selfishness of most prisoners, Levi does not act like the others. I see him still having at least a little humanity. For example, when Kraus is upset, Levi attempts to comfort him by describing a dream that he had. Also, when they are being sorted Levi feels like his paper should have been switched with the man who was not spared. After the sorting, one man was praying to God a prayer of gratitude, but the man next to him had been condemned. Levi thinks this is selfish. This shows that he has the decency to determine fairness instead of just being happy it was not him in that position. He feels sympathy for those who have not been spared, unlike everyone else who is selfishly grateful.
I commented on Hailey Morgan and Osten Belew's posts.
I commented on Hailey Morgan and Osten Belew's posts.
Comments
For Primo Levi to hang on to his humanity in the absolute darkest of circumstances is a truly inspiring act of rebellion. It was the Germans sole purpose to rid their captives of their decency and Levi, whether purposefully or not, denied them of that success.