When Wiesel survives the selection he states, that
at that point, no one else mattered. He didn’t care whether or not anybody else
had survived or not because he did survive, and this is another part of his
humanity he has lost. The camp has led Wiesel to only think about his and his
father’s survival as he doesn’t care whether or not the others survive. But
this hasn’t only happened to Wiesel, but also to the entire camp. When Akiba
Drumer died, his only request was that the prisoners say Kaddish for him, but
three days later they all did not do this due to the harshness of the camp.
I like your response to this chapter Eric. I wonder how many of the inmates had such a reflective consideration as Elie did. I also wonder if he was able to reflect in this way while he was a young prisoner or if that reflection didn't come until much later. His survival instincts might have been all consuming....reflection might have been too heavy a burden during this time.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Mrs. Schulz, that Elie's survival instincts might have been all consuming as is suggested by Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs that basic needs (food, shelter, & safety) must be met before any desire of self-actualization by a person
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