From reading this second chapter, I wasn’t very
surprised at how the Jews reacted towards Mrs. Schächter when she was screaming about a fire because
of the way they reacted towards Moishe in chapter one (when he came back to
Sighet and told them about how he escaped from all these atrocities the Nazis
were doing to Jews). Although I wasn’t surprised at their actions towards Mrs. Schächter, I thought the Jews were in no position to hurt
her. They should have understood that this was her way of getting through the
terrible situation they were all put. Another thing that stood out to me was
that maybe the fire Mrs. Schächter always
screamed about was her gut feeling and anticipation about the Jews getting cremated
at the concentration camps.
Lizette, when I first read this book it did take me off guard at their reaction and answer towards handling Mrs. Schachter. But I understand where you are coming from since the people didn't necessarily react friendly towards Moishe when he tried to warn them. Regardless I agree that they were in no position to hurt her but I'm sure they had a reason for it, could have been as simple as being afraid of how she was handling the situation.
ReplyDeleteI was initially surprised at how they reacted to Mrs Schachter's outbursts, but the more I think about it the more I think they did so out of their own fear. I think it's not so much that they got fed up with her and decided to beat her, but that she was scaring them and making the situation even worse for them. Their fear took over and got the best of them.
ReplyDeleteGreat comments about fear. I think the Nazis created a "culture of fear" for the Jews. They did not know where they were going on the trains. Their basic needs were not being met.
ReplyDeleteI thought that the way the Jews reacted to Mrs. Schäcter and how they treated her was an example of how the efforts of the Nazis to dehumanize the Jews were getting to them. Since they were being treated worse than animals, they began to treat each other worse.
ReplyDeleteI agree Lizette I think her screams foreshadowed what was going to happen to them. Throughout this chapter the Jews still think that there is light at the end of the tunnel and she seems to be the only on that knows that that is not true.
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