It is truly incredible what you can do when your life is in danger. I've always heard the saying "mind over matter" and I never thought it had any value, but this chapter has proven the true value of the mind. The Jewish people were forced to run for hours, nonstop. After I run the 400 I collapse at the finish line and crawl to get a cup of water because I'm just so exhausted. These people ran for HOURS without stopping, without food, without water, and why? Because their fears, their minds, were so strong that the fatigue and weakness of the body didn't even matter anymore. We've also all heard the saying "survival of the fittest" and this holds to be true throughout the novel so far. The need to survive, to see another day, is what pushes us, pushes them, to do the crazy things that we/they do. The mind is such an incredible tool and I think sometimes we forget that. It plays a large part in our lives, and really ties into the idea of choice or chance in the novel. It's their minds that make the choice to keep moving, keep running, to stay alive just one more day, and I believe that ultimately it will be those choices that get them to safety. I also believe your choices affect your chances so the more, I guess positive choices that Elie and his father make, the higher the chance they will come out of this alive.
I agree, Mikaela, it is amazing how much they were able to endure. I think we often take the mind for granted. Despite all the knowledge we know posses we still can't fully understand the mind.
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