At last, the Germans are out of the camp because the Russians are getting Germans' butt kicked. Alberto left early, but Primo felt like staying more and also Primo was a little sick. SO he stayed with the other people who are not ready to leave the camp and survived for 10 days more. SInce Germans are out of the way, the prisoners could now steal food from the kitchen with ease, and for early days they survived on kitchen food and melted snow water. Even when the concentration camp was over, there were young and old people dying from the sickness or hunger.
During the 10 days Primo and the rest of the refugees fed on food at kitchen, got new clothes from a Tailor.
In the middle of 10 days, one guy from other camp saw potato field from not so far area. Primo and his gangs took many potatoes and had a feast with them. Potatoes, or soup, pancakes, and anything one could do with potatoes were made and for the first time in ages, the prisoners had a feast.
At this time, the prisoners were teamed up, not trying to survive on his own. By helping each other, they gained food and tried to heal the sick or old people. In the later days, the 11 people escaped the camp, leaving only one dead in the camp.
Primo survived and some of his friends also reached their family or made a profession of something. All of them were now back in peaceful life.
Personally, I liked this chapter because it was easiest to read and there were many parts about food. THe food in the book always make me hungry... wait not only that, It was a happy ending for all the prisoners. The last sentence of what primo said also made him sound like he miss the people in the camp. Maybe he doesn't miss the camp's life, but people from the camp is what he missed the most.
Sunday 11 March 2007
journal 16
"To destroy a man is difficult,almost as difficult as to create one: it has not been easy, nor quick, but you Germans have succeeded. Here we are, docile under you gaze; from our side you have nothing more to fear; no acts of violence, no words of defiance, not even a look of judgement."
He said this before a guy who said, "I am the last one!" This may be significance because that man who died WAS the last one who will die in the camp. Primo was disgusted to see another person dying and because the guy had stated I am the last one, Primo and his friend must have been shocked.
The quote from the pg 150, up in the first paragraph is from Primo who said to the Germans in thought that German was successful controlling the men of jews. He means that making life or killing life is hard when he said man is difficult to create one or kill. Life is most important thing about people, but German didn't think so. German thought Jews were inferior and they thought Jewish does not need life, so that is why they can easily kill off life of men at the camp. And because German can kill life so easily, Jewish are afraid so they are docile to Germans. Germans are the trainers and Jews became their pet-animals.
He said this before a guy who said, "I am the last one!" This may be significance because that man who died WAS the last one who will die in the camp. Primo was disgusted to see another person dying and because the guy had stated I am the last one, Primo and his friend must have been shocked.
The quote from the pg 150, up in the first paragraph is from Primo who said to the Germans in thought that German was successful controlling the men of jews. He means that making life or killing life is hard when he said man is difficult to create one or kill. Life is most important thing about people, but German didn't think so. German thought Jews were inferior and they thought Jewish does not need life, so that is why they can easily kill off life of men at the camp. And because German can kill life so easily, Jewish are afraid so they are docile to Germans. Germans are the trainers and Jews became their pet-animals.
journal 15
Time passed, and many italian jews or other jews that came with Primo is now long gone. The experienced prisoners like Primo is now a kommando who works under shelter. What they basically do is work with chemical ingredients. Primo Levi was chosen for one of the three scientist to work in laboratory. His friend Alberto congratulated him and Primo mentioned that his friendship with Alberto has grown like an "Alliance." There is no envy or jealousy from Alberto. He is the best friend of primo and having friend in the camp is not very usual thing. As I said in before journals, everybody is enemy and bargain life to each other secretly. However, Primo was a very good friend of Alberto as he was also a friend of primo.
The life in the camp turned very easy for Primo because now he is promoted to a specialist and he can get new clothes every wednesday. I figured out that having a major of something useful would also get a man to get his life easier than those who suffers. Primo can also steal without getting in danger and what he always does is now writing notes and do chemistry. Nobody beats him and he had better shelter. The life in Buna became a heaven for Primo now. (Not entirely, but probably better off than the life when he was working severously)
The life in the camp turned very easy for Primo because now he is promoted to a specialist and he can get new clothes every wednesday. I figured out that having a major of something useful would also get a man to get his life easier than those who suffers. Primo can also steal without getting in danger and what he always does is now writing notes and do chemistry. Nobody beats him and he had better shelter. The life in Buna became a heaven for Primo now. (Not entirely, but probably better off than the life when he was working severously)
Saturday 10 March 2007
journal 14
Rainy day is a melancholic day for everyone. It is same for everybody in the camp. Rainy day means muddy ground and place to evade rain to the prisoners. They would not want muddy and wet clothes so they would hide under shelter in a shed. And in chapter 14, the rain had been raining for 10 days and ground is so wet that it is difficult to work and all sacks are wet. Primo once mentioned in pg 131,
"Between one movement of the shovel and another I think about it, and I really believe that to have a dry rag would be positive happiness."
This phrase is saying that even primo is in the dreaded camp, he would also think about working in better conditions like having a dry bag instead of the weat ones. It seems that the prisoners cannot stand massive mother nature disaster than the slavery in the camp. Primo was also glad that it was not windy while raining because windy weather would make prisoners in despair. Even though the prisoners does not like rainy weather, they don't like something (like wind) that makes the rainy weather even worse.
"Between one movement of the shovel and another I think about it, and I really believe that to have a dry rag would be positive happiness."
This phrase is saying that even primo is in the dreaded camp, he would also think about working in better conditions like having a dry bag instead of the weat ones. It seems that the prisoners cannot stand massive mother nature disaster than the slavery in the camp. Primo was also glad that it was not windy while raining because windy weather would make prisoners in despair. Even though the prisoners does not like rainy weather, they don't like something (like wind) that makes the rainy weather even worse.
journal 13
At winter of the Auschwitz camp, there is a process called 'Selekja' which means selection. Those who get selected by the German officers does not get any reward, but instead one gets to die earlier. In winter, German officers once set a big tent for the prisoners of lager. however as population of prisoners were increasing, they had to lessen the population of the prisoners by selecting them and then kill.
Even in selection process, there is still idea of survival of fittest. Some people who learned about the selection, won't let others know and sneak to Ka-be for just to escape the selection. Once again, as i mentioned before in other journals, these sneaky people does not let other people know because they want advantage from those who doesn't know. But because of the people who did not let others know, people will revenge against the people who did not teach them about the selection. Than whole revenging will start just like Peace child's Sawi did to the other tribes.
Even in selection process, there is still idea of survival of fittest. Some people who learned about the selection, won't let others know and sneak to Ka-be for just to escape the selection. Once again, as i mentioned before in other journals, these sneaky people does not let other people know because they want advantage from those who doesn't know. But because of the people who did not let others know, people will revenge against the people who did not teach them about the selection. Than whole revenging will start just like Peace child's Sawi did to the other tribes.
journal 12
In chapter 12, The Buna is bombarded and the prisoners faced new challenge in the life of camp. The bombardment was led to the flee of prisoners. Prisoners had to wrok all day and now that the camp was getting bombed, they had to evade from the danger. The prisoners run wild and some steal food from the kitchen and some might get killed or starved in hunger. The laws in the camp doesn't exist during the bombardment. Though it is risky to steal food from the kitchen (cuz it led to death)the prisoners are too starved to care about the result.
Primo also described this crazy experience as "world shaken every day more deeply by the omens of its nearing end, amidst new terrors and hopes, with intervals of exasperated slavery," at pg 119. The camp was already bad enough with dying people from cursed German people. Though the prisoners gain hope sometimes, the hope is shriveled up agian by the the camp's new experience, bombing, which led Primo to add it as one of their new torture in the camp.
Primo also described this crazy experience as "world shaken every day more deeply by the omens of its nearing end, amidst new terrors and hopes, with intervals of exasperated slavery," at pg 119. The camp was already bad enough with dying people from cursed German people. Though the prisoners gain hope sometimes, the hope is shriveled up agian by the the camp's new experience, bombing, which led Primo to add it as one of their new torture in the camp.
journal 11
The poem about Ulysses (the greek epic poem also called Odysseus where it explains the Ithacan king returning from Trojan war)that Primo explains to Pikolo is basically a poem that invigorates hopes to the hopeless people. The poem, in a different way, talks about Ulysses' dangerous adventure through the ocean and troubles. This sort of reminds the prisoners in Auschwitz. Odysseus (or Ulysses whatever) was forced to go to trojan war because of Menelaus, king of sparta, and it took long time to come back to his home, just like jewish people in the camp. Jewish were forced to come to the camp because of German nazis. They were labored and until the German Nazis were defeated, the prisoners lived a animal-like life. Many jewish died, as well as Ody's men. Ody's poem might have gave the prisoners feel hopeful because Ody was successful at last getting to his home. They probably believed that, just like Ody, they will also live throughout the camp (although that is not sure because anybody can die anytime) and return home.
Journal 10
What ill-luck, I cannot even talk to the others to hear what questions they are asking. pg 105
It must be very uncomfortable not able to communicate or even understand the germans. However, the non-german people had to suck it up and try to do what the German officers say to them. In the earlier chapter the prisoners learned that they shouldn't ask question to the German officers or ask to repeat. Primo had little knowledge on German language however he was still an amateur at it. Chemical examination seems to have been important event for Primo because he was expert at chemistry. But because he couldn't understand what 'Alex' was saying, he had to guess by Alex's look at follow the action. If he makes one wrong move, he will be flunked in Chemical examination.
It must be very uncomfortable not able to communicate or even understand the germans. However, the non-german people had to suck it up and try to do what the German officers say to them. In the earlier chapter the prisoners learned that they shouldn't ask question to the German officers or ask to repeat. Primo had little knowledge on German language however he was still an amateur at it. Chemical examination seems to have been important event for Primo because he was expert at chemistry. But because he couldn't understand what 'Alex' was saying, he had to guess by Alex's look at follow the action. If he makes one wrong move, he will be flunked in Chemical examination.
Saturday 3 March 2007
journal 9
In chapter 9, Primo talks about how to be a good survivor. There was this one guy in camp, who is a loner (actually everybody are loners because nobody help each other to survive), but cunning. In order to survive this harsh camp, one must think about how to get off from the hard jobs. He can sacrifice his hunger for one meal and trade a bread for something and avoid from work. Then he will keep his plan for himself to use it again. If too much people use his plans, then the plan the original man created will be useless next time when he uses it. Therefore in order to survive this horrid camp, one must be cunning and sneaky.
journal 8
As the food were used for money or trading, the shirt also became one of them. The shirt was issued for prisoners whenever they lost it or can't be worn. So the prisoners decided to trade shirts for food and the same things that they traded for with bread. Although losing clothes will lead to harsh punishment for the prisoners, in order to survive and get what prisoners want, they'll do anything to get it. They are going to die anyway, so why not do what they want?
Then primo talks about ration of bread, cigarettes, shirts, buna factories and rest of the materials that exist in Auschwitz camp.
Although, this place is a camp, it does seem more like a prison (probably it is) because prisoners work and get small amount of food that everybody complain about. The SS men has no mercy for the thief as well as the victim. SSmen does not care or rather encourage the theft to happen, so that SS men can punish them both for their mischeives.
Then primo talks about ration of bread, cigarettes, shirts, buna factories and rest of the materials that exist in Auschwitz camp.
Although, this place is a camp, it does seem more like a prison (probably it is) because prisoners work and get small amount of food that everybody complain about. The SS men has no mercy for the thief as well as the victim. SSmen does not care or rather encourage the theft to happen, so that SS men can punish them both for their mischeives.
Friday 2 March 2007
Journal 7
From this chapter, prisoners start talking about food. First a boy named Sigi would talk about his mother in Vienna and the third dishes of bean soup he couldn't finish. Then other person would talk about his country and the food and so and on. Every international prisoners miss their food fron their country. Then Primo would think about how weak their flesh is. He figured that they are all in fantasies of food because of their hunger.
Hunger also leads to pilfering food and survival of fittest. One who is smart to get food can obtain quite more rations than he could and those who does not watch for their food would see their food stolen in a second. Bread loses its taste and nutrition if time passes. Therefore, it is smart to chop it in ones mouth before it gets stolen or rotten.
Also, the soup comes in the meal which satisfies the prisoners. Sometimes the soup comes in mass amount therefore one can get 6 pints of hot soup.
Hunger also leads to pilfering food and survival of fittest. One who is smart to get food can obtain quite more rations than he could and those who does not watch for their food would see their food stolen in a second. Bread loses its taste and nutrition if time passes. Therefore, it is smart to chop it in ones mouth before it gets stolen or rotten.
Also, the soup comes in the meal which satisfies the prisoners. Sometimes the soup comes in mass amount therefore one can get 6 pints of hot soup.
Journal 6
PG 70. "Oh, If one could only cry! Oh, if one could only affront the wind as we once used to, one equal terms, and not as we do here, like a cringing dogs. We are outside and everyone picks up his lever"
Primo is desperate for freedom. In my opinion, the wind in this phrase means freedom or "better treatment." In the camp, only German are the superior beings and rest of the prisoners had unequal rights. The harsh treatment made the workers discouraged and sad. The only thing that can invigorate these workers are the smell of freedom or care from somebody. Dogs also like to get treated with care. Dogs symbolizes to workers in this phrase.
Primo is desperate for freedom. In my opinion, the wind in this phrase means freedom or "better treatment." In the camp, only German are the superior beings and rest of the prisoners had unequal rights. The harsh treatment made the workers discouraged and sad. The only thing that can invigorate these workers are the smell of freedom or care from somebody. Dogs also like to get treated with care. Dogs symbolizes to workers in this phrase.
Thursday 1 March 2007
Journal 5
In chapter 5, Primo explains how Ka-Be is more better place than a camp. At least one can sleep comfortably without working, however when prisoners have to go to the camp, they will grumble and march to work. In pg 56-57,
"But the man who leaves the Ka-Be, naked and almost always insufficiently cured, feels himself ejected into the dark and cold of sidereal space. His trousers fall down, his shoes hurt him, his shirt has no button. He searches for a human contact and only finds backs turned on him. He is helpless and vulnerable as a new-born baby, but the following morning he will still have to march to work."
This quote explains how the patients from Ka-Be goes back to work. Their relaxing time ends and have to wear old prisoner-worker clothes that is so uncomfortable for their body. They have to get used to work again after the break time. The dark and cold of sidereal space seems to relate to the camp life because it is very gloomy prison there. Even if he did not want to go, he must suck it up and go to work again.
IN pg 61, "One can hear the sleepers breathing and snoring; some groan and speak. Many lick their lips and move their jaws. They are dreaming of eating; this is also a collective dream. It is a pitiless dream which the creator of the tantalus myth must have known." This quote explains the prisoners are missing the food they ate before they were captured. Since they only eat bread and soup, it is a logical thing that they should be dreaming about food. However, a gourmet is like a myth in the camp since no one can eat heartily. They are just dreaming hopeless dream.
"But the man who leaves the Ka-Be, naked and almost always insufficiently cured, feels himself ejected into the dark and cold of sidereal space. His trousers fall down, his shoes hurt him, his shirt has no button. He searches for a human contact and only finds backs turned on him. He is helpless and vulnerable as a new-born baby, but the following morning he will still have to march to work."
This quote explains how the patients from Ka-Be goes back to work. Their relaxing time ends and have to wear old prisoner-worker clothes that is so uncomfortable for their body. They have to get used to work again after the break time. The dark and cold of sidereal space seems to relate to the camp life because it is very gloomy prison there. Even if he did not want to go, he must suck it up and go to work again.
IN pg 61, "One can hear the sleepers breathing and snoring; some groan and speak. Many lick their lips and move their jaws. They are dreaming of eating; this is also a collective dream. It is a pitiless dream which the creator of the tantalus myth must have known." This quote explains the prisoners are missing the food they ate before they were captured. Since they only eat bread and soup, it is a logical thing that they should be dreaming about food. However, a gourmet is like a myth in the camp since no one can eat heartily. They are just dreaming hopeless dream.
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