Chattahoochee River
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Chapter 7- Animals
Throughout the novel Elie compares the Jews to cattle who are being herded and transported from one place to another in cattle cars. He also mentions multiple times of how the Germans treat the Jews like animals. In chapter 7 Elie makes it seem like the Jews are not just cattle anymore, but they are more interesting animals like those at a circus that generate attention. The author repeatedly states of how the Germans find themselves in awe while watching the Jews fight for the little pieces of food that get thrown in. The Jews beat and put one another out like wild animals would do for some food that gets thrown at them. Not only do the Jews fight for food, but Elie mentioned how the Jews would also fight for money that was tossed in. It's interesting how Elie, however, is above this "circus act" of wild animals. He just sits back and watches for a while and then finally asks the Germans to stop throwing in food/money.
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Erik, I also made the same observation about the Jews being compared to animals. I feel as though Elie does this to show how the nazis have corrupted the Jews. They fight for food as a way to survive.
ReplyDeleteI also noticed the same thing. Because the Jews were so hungry nothing was more important to them besides food. Like all humans the will to survive is more powerful than anything and all they can focus on is obtaining that next meal.
ReplyDeleteIt's almost like they find it amusing, watching the Jews carry out the deeds that they had once done to them. Elie preserved his sense of humanity better than the rest, which is how he was able to ask the Germans to stop throwing money/food and explain all of this.
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