Critique- Primo Levi

My initial response to the play “If this is a Man” was quite disappointing. I expected a well decorated and designed set that resembled real “concentration camp” waiting to devour my whole attention, and I hoped that it would summarize the whole story again. Unexpectedly, the set was overly simplistic; I even wondered whether the financial problems have prevented the director to spend enough money to create the setting of the play. However, I soon realized that my assumption was far off. As the play progressed on, all of my five senses seemed to be drawn into the play as my imagination expanded and matched the description that Anthony Sher gave. This was when I realized that there were purposes behind even the tiniest details; light, stage, props, actor, setting, costumes, and sound effects. As my imagination ran wild to portray every scene that Anthony Sher drew in my head, I realized the play was totally different thing than simply reading a book.
It is paradoxical to say this, but “If this is a Man” depicted the “Survival in the Auschwitz” in fullest by showing the least of it. The overly simplistic setting and props that even caused audience to feel like seeing the empty space actually helped audience to relate more to the concentration camp. No matter how much time, money and effort one puts in, and how intricately designed setting it is, the setting would never be able to portray the “exact” scene from the one existed during the period of Holocaust. The setting might also limit some individuals’ own imagination because everyone would have different interpretation of the Primo Levi’s writing, so by showing the audience what the concentration camps might have looked like would immediately block the imagination of the audience by letting them to submit imagination to the tangible subjects that is in front of them. Realizing this, the director of the play, Richard Walson, came up with a shrewd plan to make the stage as empty as possible and let alone the audience of the play to let their imagination run wild. By doing this, the audiences were able to make tighter connection with their own imagination to the setting and the props. The main prop of this play was a chair. A chair resembled everything, from a load of work, to bed, and this gave a room for audience’s mind to virtually visualize in their heads what the load or a bed would have been like in the concentration camps. It helped audiences to concentrate more on then natural flow of the play by developing their original shapes of what the loads, beds, and other things that Anthony Sher alludes to would have been look like. Additionally, the stage was covered by grey walls that caused the least distraction of the audience. However, the director adds symbolic points like purple light at the end of the empty room. The dark purple evokes gloom and sad feelings and it can cause frustration. Thus, I guess the empty room symbolized the gas chamber that terminated all the Jews and the cruelest place where dead corps were also left for audience to imagine. The play, therefore, were largely dependent for audiences’ imagination to really being able to follow the play or not,
The light effect allowed the act to represent the deepest emotions that the prisoners felt during they were in Auschwitz. In reading the book, ‘survivals in Auschwitz,’ the way how Primo Levi constantly described how horrible the conditions were in concentration, and after several times the subject became dull and boring. However, the play solved that problem by representing it through light to display emotions, rather then, writing out emotions every once in a while. Take the dark room behind the wall that appeared frequently during the clip, it portrayed Primo’s deepest fears in his life. The fear of hunger, coldness, suspiciousness, and the threat of being selected constantly haunted the prisoners in the concentration camps. The light usually symbolizes the hope, and this performance also portrayed light as a factor that gave them the actor a hope. In the book, concentration camp were such a harsh surroundings that everyone grew “selfish” and concerned only about their survivals, and prisoners lacked a chance to share freely about their concerns to one another because nobody really trusted anyone, and they have to save the last strength to endure next suffering days by saving the energy to talk. By doing so, many prisoners had mounted concerns and worries in their heart that they never had any opportunity to share that burden. However, with the spotlight on, it gave him an opportunity to share his story to the audience who would alleviate his “burden.”
The play was adapted by Anthony Sher, who excelled in provoking a whole different perspective and emotions that I have not quite attained from the book. The great difference from looking at the book from seeing the movie was that the visual aids that were represented to the audience had huge influence on how we tended to perceive things. The delicately designed and well thought out costumes reflected the dramatic changes from ordinary working Jew to the prisoner in the concentration camp without a break of a flow. Initially, the typical middle aged Jewish men with glasses and collared shirt appeared on the scene. This was a pleasant shock, because most of the people would have expected a man with torn shirts and pants. However, as plot moved on, Anthony Sher took his glasses off, unbuttoned his shirt, and rolled up his sleeves and revealed the number printed on his arm. This suggested how well and insightful the play had been thought out because it illustrated the changes as a typical Jew had to go through as he moved to the concentration camp without stopping the play to explain the changes. Additionally, the change in costumes gave the bases for audience to see that Jews were same people as every other person, and it gave audience an opportunity to visually compare the difference in appearance before and after a Jew was captured to the Nazi Germans. Delicately designed costumes were a direct contrast with the empty settings that portrayed almost nothing to the point of vagueness. The contrast worked in favor of the audience because it helped the audience to base their imagination on the costume and expand from then on. At first glance, the costume of Anthony Sher suggested that he is an average working Jew, and there were still many other factors like his physical traits, body structure, and facial features that suggested that he was a Jew. These traits were added in order to emphasize how the life of the typical Jew was like before he was sent to the concentration camp. The numbers shown through the folded sleeves of the Anthony Sher was another important part of the costume. The numbers were identities that SS officials forcibly placed upon the Jews, and it illustrated how harshly Nazi Germans treated Jews by stripping of all the identities, property, and many lives of the Jews. The director’s intentions were well served as the audiences were able to build bases for connection starting from the beginning by the appearance of Anthony Sher and how those gradually changed. Without the costume of the Anthony Sher portrayed to the readers, only the vague symbolism of the concentration camp would wonder around the heads of the audience, and many people would have had hard time to ponder their thoughts into the stream of imagination that flowed throughout the whole play. The book, however, lacked the stimuli factor that caused readers to expend on to their imagination. The book was more restrictive in a sense because the readers only had to follow the description of the somewhat limited description of the author. It was effective that the director of the play to leave some base to start their imagination from and leave other huge part of the play to depend on the imagination of the audience. However, the director of the play would also have to realize that by doing so, the success of the play was under great risk because the audiences who didn’t realize the book would assume that the whole play was unprepared and empty and the only thing that the director cared was the costume of the Anthony Sher.
The tone of Anthony Sher was perfectly set as if a guitar was tuned to create a perfect sound. His voice had strong attraction in that the voice was calm yet clear. He had somewhat strong European accent that added flavor to our ears to imagine as if I was in Europe. Throughout the whole play, Anthony Sher projected a monotonous and dull voice that was somewhat boring, however, I think that is also a point that the director wanted to make. The director wanted to show how boring and monotonous life the life of the prisoners had become after prisoners went through so many sufferings and were under constant fear of being executed that no other factors seemed to threat and the dull weary voice suggests that the prisoners lost most of their hope in living their normal life again.
Ultimately, the play “If this is a Man” evoked whole different feelings than what I have felt from the book. The way how the play combined light, stage, props, costume, and actor into a union to stimulate imagination of the audience deserves credit. These factors worked in such a harmony that I did not merely serve to summarize the whole book, but it actually expanded our branch of imagination to think beyond the original book.

Journal 17

The Story of Ten Days
In reading this chapter, I have to say Primo Levi must be the luckiest person I know. Throughout the book, there were number of luckiest things that happened to Primo Levi that allowed him to survive in the concentration camp. First of all, he most fortunately met Alberto who gave him a great physical as well as psychological support, to Primo Levi, he was kind of figure who gave and shared hope and strength. Additionally, he was selected as a laboratory worker who had great advantage over many other ordinary prisoners. Lastly, the scarlet fever saved his life in allowing him to avoid the death march 20,000 in moving to the different concentration camp.
Other factors also contributed to the survival of Primo Levi than just luck. Primo Levi showed great leadership and willingness to survive to the other prisoners who were left in the concentration camps without the SS officials, because they assumed many of them would die even though they were not killed like the other healthy 20,000 prisoners who left. It was true, many of the people who were left just died out of their own illness, however, Primo Levi and other fellows worked really hard and portrayed their will to survive. Although, they were sick, they set out to explore to gain the necessary goods and foods they needed to survive along with the people who Primo Levi shared room with. In this room, Charles and Arthur were great supporters who had done a good job in gathering food and goods. For instance, they found an oven to generate warmth to the all the people in the room, they found food and water to sustain their lives. The way how they managed to gain all the food and necessities for living deserves applause because they have done all these despite their illness and hunger. Without their strong will and determination, they wouldn’t have survived out of that dreadful situation.
Primo Levi at one point states, “was annoyed that they should be afraid: they had not even experienced a month of the Lager, they hardy suffered from hunger yet, they were not even Jews, but they were afraid.” This suggests how Primo Levi experienced such a hardship that he is seeking for empathy from other people to notice the sufferings he had to go through in his life, and criticize anyone who suffered less that complains. This shows the human tendency of wanting to get credit and respect for what they have done. The story ends as they get rescued by the Russians, and how each of them exchanged long letters. I wonder how emotional they would become in writing those letters to one another, who had walked together the path of life and death, and they have survived the dreadfulness of Auschwitz. I could not imagine how much things that they wanted to tell each other. For them, their relationship would be an unforgettable one that will last until their death. I think dreadful situation tends to create more concrete relationship than when its’ not, because suffering and enduring hardship together by giving one another strength and hope will bond much solid and concrete relationship than a relationship that does not suffer together. From now on, I will look for a long lasting relationship who would take part in the long suffering journey that I will be on.

Journal 16

The Last One
In this chapter, Primo Levi describes the effects of the transition from “manual laborer” to the laboratory worker who has many advantages over ordinary prisoners. He has much higher living standards and the advantage of stealing tools. The comfortable surroundings of laboratory allowed him to look back at the life, and in looking back, he finds how he had adapted well in this surrounding. He writes about his “strategic” way of living, and within his writing, how he had accumulated all the knowledge to “survive” in the camps are well written. The way how he stole parts of tools that might be a value in laboratory and sold in black market to obtain ration food reflects how much experience he has accumulated to “survive” in the dreadful surroundings of Auschwitz, and the establishment of “Operation File” with Alberto suggests how deep and kin their relationship was. I guess Alberto was kind of a figure, whom Primo Levi depended or relied on, or it could be vise versa. They always shared even the smallest thing they had. The trust that formed between them allowed them to survive in the dreadfulness of the camp where nobody believes anyone, but because each of the existed for Primo Levi and Alberto, they gave strength and hope to one another. The story progresses on and Primo Levi describes one man who tried to revolt in the concentration camp. “The man who is to die in front of us today in some way took part in the revolt...He is to die today before our very eyes: and perhaps the Germans do not understand that this solitary death, this man's death which has been reserved for him, will bring him glory, not infamy." The one man who revolted probably have brought strong emotional appeal to the prisoners in the camp to revolt because he posed a whole different perspective of the meaning of “survival.” He seems to suggest that “survival” in Auschwitz is being subjected under German control, and most prisoners might have felt or agreed with him and felt ashamed, however, I believe there are many different choices that prisoners could make that are wise. The man who chose “revolutionary” way that was willing to give up his life, while Primo Levi and other prisoners chose to “survive” and endure the hardship that Germans might give them, and they reflected their will to go home. It depends on people what choice is good or bad for them, but as for me, I would also have chosen Primo Levi’s way of living. Probably because of the hope that one day if I would get out of this concentration camp, I would taste the freedom and warmth in full appreciation. Thus, nobody could blame on anyone for the choice they have made for their own future.

Journal 15

Die drei Leute Von Labor
This chapter illustrates how prisoners are in constant tension and in suspicion because nobody knows what fate is waiting for them. Initially, Primo Levi had a sigh of relief when he was in the Chemical Komando, however, as no prisoners in the concentration camp predict what would happen to themselves, the most unexpected happen to him. Primo Levi had to work more than the prisoners who were not in the Chemical Komando. “So far, the advantages of being in the Chemical Komando have been limited to the following: the others have received overcoats while we have not…how can we still think about the chemistry examination and our illusions of that time?” Initially, Primo Levi thought that being in Chemical Komando would at least benefit him, however, the result came opposite. This allows us to guess what it would have been like to be in the camp, where nobody knows what to expect every second that they are living.
In the midst of chapter, news was spread that three of the people were chosen to work in the laboratory; one of them was Primo Levi. This new, however, was frightening for the chosen ones because nobody could expect what to happen. Although, many comrades congratulated them, the chosen ones were suspicious of what would happen. Primo Levi mentions Alberto a lot; probably because he was kind of figure that Primo Levi relied on the most in the camps. He was a kind of friend whom Primo Levi shared the last bit of bread with, he was kind of friend who always congratulated Primo first when he was chosen to work in the laboratory. I hope one day I would also have friend like Alberto who is trustworthy and always there for me. After that, Primo Levi discusses how good the laboratory was, it was the critical turning point of Primo Levi’s life in the concentration camp that it was like heaven in the midst of hell like environment in the Ka-Be. The temperature was warm, and everything was there for them “so it would seem that fate, by a new unsuspected path, has arranged that we three, the object of envy of all the ten thousand condemned, suffer neither hunger nor cold this winter.” This chapter will be a critical turning point for Primo Levi’s life as foreshadowed in the previous chapter; I guess Primo Levi’s description and tone will change dramatically from now on.

Journal 14

Kraus
This chapter mainly describes what kind of person Kraus was in the concentration camps. However, in doing so, I sensed a little harsh tone in Primo Levi’s writing when he was describing Kraus. “I warn him to be careful, but without much hope: he is Hungarian, he understands German badly…” I was curious why Primo Levi described Kraus in such a manner. He was a fellow who worked really hard despite the harsh surroundings, and Primo Levi constantly criticize the hard work of Kraus by saying “He does not yet know that it is better to be beaten, because one does not normally die of blows, but one does of exhaustion…he seems to think that his present situation is like outside, where it is honest and logical to work, as well as being of advantage, because according to what everyone says, the more one works the more one earns and eats.” I think the harsh tone of Primo Levi’s writing probably rooted from his hatred toward Germany soldiers, not Kraus. Primo Levi’s hatred was so deep that whoever benefited Germans was the target of his hatred. Kraus, for instance, was an honest fellow who wholeheartedly worked in the concentration camps, probably not for German’s sake, but it was his personal habit that he worked so hard in any situation given. Although, Primo Levi probably knew that Kraus was not working so hard to gain special recognition for Germans, but his anger blocked Primo Levi from seeing it, and that prejudice built upon him resulted in Primo Levi watching Kraus in pity and degrading attitude.
Primo Levi, however, did not hate him personally, it was the most illogical, and unbearable environment that caused him to view Kraus as silly, poor fellow who could didn’t see the current situation he was in. Primo Levi describes how Kraus must be a good fellow as a civilian “What a good boy Kraus must have been as a civilian: he will not survive very long here…” This quote shocked me because it contradicted the very sayings of my parents that whatever situation I am in, I have to do my best in everything. This again suggests how dreadful the conditions were in concentration camps that even the most logical statement, “the more one works the more one earns and eats” was not options in this camp. Thus, I think I could understand Primo Levi’s view on how we sometimes must work minimal for our survivals.

Journal 13

October 1944
This chapter describes how the cold weather was directly affecting the prisoners in the camp in devastating manner. The approaching cold weather was like a death sign for them. Primo Levi, in the beginning of his life in concentration camp, had suffered through devastating winter, with temperature below freezing. In this freezing weather that seems to freeze even the brains of the prisoners, nothing but weakness, hunger, and knowledge of end dominated the minds of prisoners. However, the season was natural flow of the world that nobody had control of. Prisoners hated the approaching of the winter because of the devastating cold it brought; however, I thought some of the prisoners must have once liked the winter. The prisoners faced too many adversities that even the factors that they enjoyed once became the worst foe in their lives. This reminds me of the Boy Scout camp out. Before the camp out, I always liked the cool and refreshing breeze of the winter, and the beautiful snowflakes that covered everything in white blanket. However, the winter in Boy Scout camp out was dreadful experience for me. After the hard works in the morning and afternoon, I felt weak and hungry when it was time for us to sleep, in addition, the cold weather kept me from sleeping. I shriveled in the cold, but the winter did not pity me and it continued to pour freezing breezes inside our thin tents. After this experience, I still liked winter, but I became suspicious of this season that I always wear thick clothes whenever it’s winter. Thus, I believe the devastating adversities situation they were already in created an atmosphere that converted once joyful factor in their lives to be a devastating enemy that would kill them.
The prisoners are now appreciating in full of what they already have. The ration that they received was treated in most precious way that I was shameful that I sometimes throw away food in cafeteria. I guess it is just that I just haven’t suffered enough that allowed me to throw away the food. Thus, I learned how I should be more humble and be aware and thankful of my current position and try to help people who are unfortunate than I am.

Journal 12

The events of the Summer
This chapter tells us how the value of time could be different from one another. As for me, time is one of the things that I value most, because planning and using the time wisely would most likely to help you reach the goals that you have set. For instance, my goal is attend university in United States could be achieved only if I manage myself wisely by restricting myself of playing games, watching movies, and other hobbies that I enjoy and to spend most of my time studying. Like this, time or the future provided motives and invigorates our lives due to the hope that we could succeed. However, it was different for the prisoners in the concentration camps. For them, time was simply another part of their life that was dominated and controlled by the German soldiers. The German soldiers controlled every moves that prisoners made, thus, they stripped prisoners of hope, motivation, and plans that they had for their futures. Without the purpose of life, time simply became a “set schedule” that told the prisoners of when to eat, sleep, and work. I guess this futile and vague feeling coming from fact that none of them could set goals and use time to reach that goal took away all the energy they had.
This chapter also discusses how Lorenzo symbolized hope within Primo Levi’s mind. Lorenzo constantly portrayed his “goodness” even in physically unbearable conditions in the concentration camp, and his constant goodness allowed the fellow prisoners that “there still existed a just world outside our own, something and someone still pure and whole, not corrupt, not savage… and worth surviving”. The quote suggests how strong the influence of Lorenzo was to the fellow prisoners. The conditions in the camps were so bad that it was hard for them to keep pure and whole, and as the harsh environment continually tortured them, they would eventually lose what it means to be pure or not savage, rather they only concentrate on how to survive. If this kind of thinking continues, prisoners would soon lose hope and purpose in living. However, fellow prisoner like Lorenzo portrayed strong will to remain pure and do something that would benefit neighbors gave them hope that if they go out of this concentration camp, they could see the “goodness” of people. Thus, his “goodness” split the hope and motivated them to live to see the “goodness” of the human nature.

Journal 11

The Canto of Ulysses
This chapter tends to be light heartening in its tone of writing, and I think Primo Levi intended to include this chapter to avoid the monotonous tone filled with serious and gloomy tone that had been dominating in previous chapters. This chapter discusses how people like Jean had “immune” well in the environment given, in which, he was able to build relationship with Germans and other people around that would benefit him. This chapter, in fact, had most dialogues throughout the whole book. I guess the dialogues between Pikolo and Primo Levi has great significance. The talk of Levi and Pikolo was nothing serious, rather, it was quite entertaining, but the dialogue itself reopened the mind of Primo Levi about his identity that had been blocked by the physical suffering. In the story, Primo Levi tries to teach Italian to Pikilo by translating the Canto of Ulysses from Divine Comedy. Although, this might mean nothing for ordinary people who could enjoy all the luxurious entertainment, I guess, it would have been special and sweetest dialogue Primo Levi ever had in the concentration camps because the ordinary dialogues that went along the concentration camps were foul languages of SS soldiers shouting in unkown languages. Although Pikolo and Primo also did not understand each others’ languages, it would have been a joy for Primo to try describing Italian as the joyful memory of the past entertainments flashed throughout his head. It was an opportunity for Primo Levi to reveal his true identity. I believe finding the identity of oneself is significant because the identity provides purpose in lives, and this purpose is necessary because it would be a fuel to endure the harsh environment of the concentration camps.

Journal 10

Chemical Examination
In this chapter, Levi describes the process of chemical examinations where only the talented and educated few are chosen to work in a designated area, and they gain special privilege of being free from doing manual labors. I guess this chapter will be a critical turning point of the book as Levi’s lifestyle in the concentration camps will change dramatically. Previous chapters focused on describing how hard the situation was for him to manage and endure all the physical labors that fell unto his laps; however, I guess after this chapter, Levi would have many privileges over other prisoners due to his talent in Chemistry.
In reading this chapter, I had an impression that people in the concentration camps were forced to return to “primitive” way of living. They existed only for their survivals, and they did not have purpose in life because the physical suffering took away the time or even energy for them to think. “I took my degree…I have the definite sensation of not being believed, of not even believing it myself; it is enough to look at my dirty hands…I recognize it, it is the fever of examination, my fever of my examinations, that spontaneous mobilization of all my logical faculties and all my knowledge, which my friends at university so envied me”. This passage was spoken in such a powerful way that it seems I had been inside Levi’s memory for a second. To me, this quote suggested that prisoners in the concentration camps suffered so much that they even lost their ability to think or maybe they wanted to save the energy by not thinking. Thus, these harsh and oppressive conditions forced prisoners to lose their identity; they lost hopes, and the skills they had built in their whole lifetime, and they became plain “animals” who followed their instinct to eat, sleep and live.
Levi put this in humorous yet serious tone; he stated that he had to search through his brain to remember what he had been doing in his whole life. This suggested me how we must never lose our identity. Talents and skills you obtained so well that seems like innate ability you were given are one of many kinds that identify oneself, thus, those should never be forgotten because if Levi lost his skills and talents in Chemistry, he would have to be constantly suffering a severe physical labor.

Journal 9

The Drowned and the Saved
In this chapter, Primo Levi discusses the nature of the humans, how people tend to be selfish and greedy when it comes to the matter of survival. In my opinion, there should not be a question of moral or ethics for our greed because we tend to live to gain our own benefit. It is prisoners’ will to survive and withstand in the harsh environment of the concentration camps. As mentioned before, we should not debate whether it was right for prisoners to act selfishly in order to pursue for individuals’ interest rather than collective whole, rather, we should consider those who had led to the desperate situations like this. It is German and Nazi who had confiscated all the property and liberty.
In reading this book, I thought about the Group 4 project, the IB science project that students are working collectively. From that experience, I learned how important it is for us to cooperate with each other and communicate with other field of science to perform experiment and collect reasonable data. For instance, in G4 project, I was accountable for Biology; I had responsibility in researching and collecting data in Biology section, while other students are responsible for the information of their own field. And it is when those collective data and information put together that we could analyze and present our information. I thought about prisoners working together in pursuit of one goal, a goal to have freedom of living. However, the imagination was not really practical because the conditions are so horrible in the camps that prisoners would only pursuit in self-interest they do not have extra space to take care of the others. For instance, if a quarter of bread is left, and your neighborhood is dying, it is likely for people who are full to share the food with the neighbors. However, if you are also in desperate hunger, you will never share with the others. I think this is the nature of our humans that we pursuit only for our self benefit. With this concept in mind, prisoners would never be able to find a common point of negotiation that collective work would never be accomplished. Thus, I shall be thankful for what I have, and that I have opportunity to work with others is huge blessing.

Jouranl 8

The side of Good and Evil
In this chapter, Primo Levi describes the operation of the black market in the concentration camps. The black market is an economic market that is operating in hidden places in violation of legal price controls, rationing in extraordinary high prices. Thus, the existence of black market is a negative factor in society since it might lead to undesired economic impacts such as inflation affected by the high money spending. However, Primo Levi, describes black market as a way for prisoners in the camps to survive, the black market in the camps are ways for prisoners to trade their shirts, shoes in exchange of their essential foods such as bread. Later Primo Levi left thoughtful quote for the readers. “We now invite the reader to contemplate the possible meaning in the Lager of the words 'good' and 'evil', 'just' and 'unjust'; let everybody judge, on the basis of the picture we have outlined and of the examples given above, how much of our ordinary moral world could survive on this side of the barbed wire.” This quote, in fact, asks the readers whether their act of creating black market was moral or immoral when it comes to the matter of survival. To this, I want to reply that whether the act is just or unjust is not important, rather, we need to take into account of those who had led to the creation of those black markets; the Nazi soldiers. The Nazi soldiers have taken all the property and liberty away from the prisoners, in which, they were in constant hunger and sufferings. Black market was only the response of prisoners against the severe attacks from the Nazi people. Thus, I say that it is not our choice to blame those who had created the black market, rather, blame those who had led to the creation of it. Without the root of the Evil, the Evil would not exist.

Jouranl 7

A Good Day
In chapter 7, I learned how the perspective of happiness changes according to the situation one is placed in. As for me, the happiest day would be a day without homework and when it is announced that there is no school on Friday. This would be the happiest moment for me; however, this would not mean so much to Primo Levi. To him, from what he perceive as happiness would be totally different from my happiness because he is adapted in the dreadful environment. “The Lager is hunger: we ourselves are hunger, living hunger.” This quote shows how prisoners in the camp take nothing for granted and they are living under constant sufferings. For these reasons, prisoners learned to thank even the most ordinary things that happened to their lives. “…and when even I felt its lukewarmth through my clothes I understood how men can worship the sun.” Primo Levi describes how people gained happiness out of the sun, from the warmth it creates. Furthermore, prisoners in the camps received extra ration of food, and everyone was so happy that Primo Levi named the chapter, “A Good Day.” The happiness of Primo Levi, receiving extra ration of food, and receiving sun light, vise versa, would not mean so much to me, because I am fortunate enough to eat as much as I want and receive warmth not only through sun but also through Air conditioner. However, if I were to be one of the prisoners during the Holocaust, my happiness would be eating extra ration of food and getting enough and comfortable sleep for a day. From these reasons, I believe happiness is more of a subjective emotion because everyone’s happiness if different from one another.

Jouranl 6

The work
Chapter six, as described in pervious chapters, continually discusses the hardship of the prisoners in the concentration camps. How the painful and dreadful days full of works are set for prisoners. I found this chapter quite interesting because it seems to reflect myself a little bit when I am faced with some back breaking tasks. The concept of asking latrines for prisoners, in fact, happens in my life quite often. For instance, when my parents clean the house, they would always open all the windows and doors including my room to clean up. When my parents open my door, it is really hard to ignore them and continue what I am doing. I would either have to help them or do other “natural thing.” The “natural thing” that I found to do to escape the cleaning “session”, I often go to the bathroom and sit there for a while. After I listen for where the vacuum is cleaner is located, if the vacuum cleaner passes my room, I would go back to my room and continue what I was doing. Although it is little embarrassing to write about this in my journal, in Primo Levi’s case, it was essential for the prisoners to develop those kinds of skills to give their bodies a little bit of rest. For instance, when I introduced my way of avoiding hard tasks, the writing was light-hearted and nothing serious. However, when Primo Levi described about his latrines, it was rather serious. “We have the advantage that our latrine is rather far; this permits us, once a day, a slightly longer absence than normal.” This serious tone implies that Primo Levi was not just introducing it to add humor to the book; rather it was one of the essential skills that he developed as strategies for survival. It was quite threatening to realize that what we see as entertainment can be one of the survival strategies in the concentration camps, and this suggests how hard the life was in the camps.

Jouranl 5

Our Nights
In chapter five, Primo Levi describes the feelings and emotions he had after coming back from restful period. In my opinion, Primo Levi’s experience in Ka-Be might have been emotionally discouraging, because after he had tasted the tenderness of restful periods and free from the worries of being selected, it would be hard to adapt again to the “hell-like” situations outside the Ka-Be. I had similar experience with Primo Levi during my mission trip. For me, Habitat Mission trip not only provided me with an opportunity to serve others, but also a time for me to enjoy personally. The mission trip was relaxing, without the pressure of school works and parents. However, , the first week of my school after returning from the trip went horrible, it was so hard for me to re-adjust to the school environments surrounded by paperwork and the pressure of catching the work up was terrible. For these kinds of reasons, I bet the experience in Ka-Be might have not been so helpful emotional wise, however, in physical sense, it might have been a great rest for his body.
In this chapter, Primo Levi continually mentions how hard the life is in the concentration camps without free will of actions. However, Primo Levi introduces Alberto again in this chapter. Alberto was kind of figure who had a lot of capabilities, along with that, popularity followed. He was a kind of figure who was welcomed even by the German soldiers. This suggested me that in life, acquiring witty and useful capabilities are essentials in life in order to adapt into any kind of environment. This lesson connects with me a lot, especially as the days for me to go to college draws nearer. Although I am attending international school, United States is fairly unfamiliar environment for me, so I need certain capabilities to grab people’s attention and adapt well to the unfamiliar environment, as Alberto did. Thus, I think growing special capabilities to catch people’s attention and interest is a thing for me to consider as it is useful in helping me to adjust into certain environments.

Jouranl 4

Ka-Be
This chapter evoked strong emotional appeal to me, because I realized how prisoners in the camps are thankful to even the smallest thing in their lives after they were adapted to the hazardous way of life. After my mission trip, I had somewhat similar experience as prisoners that I felt even stronger sympathy toward them. During my mission trip that lasted for nine long days, I went to Thailand with my mindset fixed to serving other people who are under severe poverty. However, as the nine days dragged on, I increasingly missed my home, especially my computers. Before I went to the mission trip, using computer was a norm in my life that I did not appreciate the usefulness of the computers, however, when I couldn’t use the computers, I realized how essential they were in my life. Later, when I returned from the trip, one of the first things I appreciated was the things that I saw everyday; family, house environment, bed, and computers. Similarly, prisoners in the concentration camps had lost all their property and life routine that when they received the smallest retreat of having physical comfort, they appreciated it in full extend. Like this, we tend to be ignorant about the things that we are so used to.
The harsh environment caused prisoners to have great attachment on the mundane schedules they were used to. “We had never seen its boundaries, but we feel all around us the evil presence of the barbed wire that separates us from the world (42). This quote suggests that prisoners in the concentration camps felt like they were the birds in the cages that their liberty to pursue their personal interest had been trapped. Not being able to do what they have always done painful, because it is always hard to be revolutionary and adapt to new things. Thus, the damage that the concentration camp gave to the prisoners was both emotional and physical factors.

Jouranl 3

Initiation
Chapter three reminded me of what my parents used to say when I was young, “Keep yourself clean wherever you go.” And I realized how there could be various meanings even in a simple statement as above. Before I read this chapter, I always thought of this statement simply as a way my parents used to keep me clean. However, after I finished reading chapter three, I realized everything can be viewed critically. In other words, I realized that in this chapter, washing not only represented the physical cleanness, but it also may represent other things, such as dignity and propriety.
Primo Levi, in this chapter, described the mental state of the prisoners. All the prisoners in the camps were in constant tensions. The tension rooted both from emotional and physical factors. Emotionally, they were always worried about their lives because anyone could be put into gas chambers in any day. Additionally, everyday work gave them a physical pain. Not only that, but they were also treated badly that they weren’t called by their names; rather, they were given numbers. Furthermore, the unsanitary environment was notorious that washing became a futile job for prisoners because it would only take energy for prisoners. Primo Levi’s position toward washing was also same, he believed washing oneself was just a waste of energy because they would eventually get dirty by the next day, thus, and there was no point in washing himself up. However, Steinlauf washed himself everyday. Steinlauf’s view was “not because the regulation states it, but for dignify and propriety.”
His action, in fact, suggested that he will not abide by rules of Nazi and he will stand up against them. In other words, the physical part of keeping sanitary lost its values, but the moral value still held its values. Primo Levi was so concentrated on his physical part that he did not understand why he had to wash himself if he were to get dirty again. But later, after he looked himself back, realized it symbolized sense of pride and everything. After reading this chapter, I became more critical in viewing things, even the simplest thing that I do everyday, like washing could mean a lot.

Jouranl 2

This chapter discusses how humans tend to adapt to certain environment for their survivals. Early in the chapter, Primo Levi described the cruel conditions that Jews had to confront in concentration camps. As the title, “on the bottom” suggests, the “bottom” in this chapter symbolizes the desperate situation that Jews had to undergo in concentration camps. For instance, the Jews were not given fresh water to drink, rather, they were only given dirty water with which they were only able to run the water in their mouth to satisfy the gist of thirst they experienced. Daily routine was a pain for the prisoners, because the fact that they lacked the supply of fresh water was like a torture for them. Furthermore, I think the word “bottom,” contains another meaning that Primo Levi tried to describe. The “bottom” symbolizes to the treacherous actions that prisoners did for their own survival.
In the book, many prisoners in the camps were persecuted mainly from the belief that they are Jews; however, some of the Jews were treacherous enough that when it came to the matter of survival, they betrayed their beliefs and persecuted their own fellow believers. The populations varied in the camps, people were concentrated in camps from many different boundaries that they came from different parts of Europe and the people who were loyal to the Germans were awarded to certain positions that they would not have to work as the others do. However, the consequence for that was that they had to be harsh to other prisoners in order to keep their position. In order to remain in their status, they had to treat their fellow believers as harshly as Nazis treated them.
Although, it is emotionally appealing to criticize the people who betrayed their belief and fellowmen for their own survivals, but in my opinion, it is not our option to criticize them, rather, we have to protect them and comfort them with our concerns because we had never been to those desperate situations as they were in.

Journal # 1

During the history of World War two, there had been many incidences of atrocities, but the first chapter of the Survival in the Auschwitz, the journey, introduces the severe treatment of the Jews by Nazi in Europe. The author of the book, Primo Levi was Italian citizen of Jewish race, in which, he was also captured and set into concentration camps. There, he saw how systematic the Nazis were in forcing the Jews as laborers and slaughtering them whenever they were of no use.
The chapter one of the book vividly described how strong the racist idea Nazi people had toward the Jews. To Nazi people’s eyes, Jews were inferior, in that they should be treated with the lowest treatment possible. Such attitude is portrayed through every aspect of how they treated Jews. For instance, the people who were captured were stripped of everything, from their dignity, respect, names, and even modest clothes. In the chapter, Primo Levi describes how they were being stripped naked and were forced to take a shower in a bunch of other Jewish people. With this act, even their slightest respect and dignity remained in their hearts had been vanished, and the captives had only two choices to make in the concentration camps. Either they had to die, or to live by working under Nazi people. However, they had constant fear of going through “Selections” which separated. The German SS solders would separate those who were capable of work from those who were incapable. Those who seemed incapable of working were to be sent to the gas chambers to breathe in harmful gas until they could no longer breathe.
The detailed illustration of Primo Levi made me frown as I read the book, because of the cruelty that Germans enacted toward the Jews. The severe cruelty raised questions whether the Germans soldiers were doing it out of joy or were doing it only to secure their own lives from the threat of high officials. Even if German SS soldiers were “forced” to kill those mass Jewish people in gas chamber due to the threat of the high officials, it seems to go against the moral and ethical codes. Thus, I believe that even the only “excuse” of the German SS soldiers that they were forced to do it under the pressure of high officials; nothing could justify the cruelty they demonstrated toward the Jews. In other words, I could accept no word that could justify their acts of massacring Jews.

Auschwitz: Concentration camps

The movie evoked strong emotion in regarding my position toward the concentration camps. Originally, my perception of the concentration camps was simply an “oppressive” environment where many Jews and minority groups were massacred. However, as I watched the video, I trembled with horror as I realized how terrible the situations were in the camps, and my whole concept of concentration camps in my head was rewritten. The scene that shocked me the most was when numerous corpses were lying on the ground, a crane came up to “wipe out” the entire corpses into one big ditch. During the process, the bodies of the corpse were deteriorated to the point that I could not even tell whether it was a human body or not. During my career as a student, I concentrated in learning more about the political or government system in the era of massacres. For instance, as a student, I was always more interested in learning the policies of Hitler and how Nazi organizations have come to be a dominant political groups, because those are the facts that were necessary to gain credit in writing essays in the classes such as history and geography; However, I was more reluctant to look for my own benefit of how the people in the concentration camps lived because at that time, I thought that “chunk” of information is unnecessary as they are irrelevant to the grades that I receive. However, after the video, I learned some valuable lesson that there are sometimes cases that I need to pay more attention to other things rather than the grades that I receive in the class. I valued my grades in school over the stories of millions and millions people’s lives. From now on, I will remember the tragic event that had happen in Auschwitz, and I will do my best to evoke emotional appeals to people to prevent any similar situations in the future if there would be any.

 Choose a representative passage from this novel that holds particular significence to you. Type it in and comment on its significance.

On page 239“Now new hopes, soaring like the pinnacle of their Sawidome, stir them toward new horizons both spiritual and secular, though their means of achieving their secular goals are at present still pitifully inadequate.”This passage held particular significance to me because I learned many valuable lessons from reading this book. First, I learned that we should never lose our hope even in desperate situations; rather, we should strive to achieve what we have aimed for. Initially, the book described the way how Sawi people lived. The book describes how it was their cultural norm to practice cannibalism and the treachery was rewarded in this society. The first thought that evoked from reading the book was that they could never accept the new “reform” movements, rather, they would only continue their traditional way of living. Additionally, they lacked what we viewed as “essentials” in life, such as stable houses, clothes, and stable way of producing food. However, Don Richardson’s continual efforts succeded in accomplishing the “miracle” within the Sawi society. The construction of such a magnificent conference building only to serve God in Sawi society means a lot to the society. It is a “Great Leap Forward” for the Sawi who had transformed from the “uncivilized” to the people who tend to accept the changes that gives greater potential for them to be civilized and develop in fast pace. However, behind all these accomplishments, there were consistent effort of Don Richardson who literally “translated” all the vocabulary that might describe our “God”. In the process, he attempted to make connection with their culture, in which, he observed their ritual practices carefully and later applied their kind of understanding to certain culture into describing God. Although, Don Richardson had a lot of conflicts in going through all this, such as going on a verge of war between the tribes, however, his consistent preaching and continual of applying the God into the culture of Sawi enabled them to accept more of the lifestyle that Tuan is offerings. And they had demonstrated such an acceptance as they had built the building.

 What reflections and connections can you make with this novel?

The Sawi tribes in the novel somewhat seems to reflect my life. I am born in a Christian setting, where my grandmother is a devoted Christian and she encourages my parents to attend church daily, Additionally, I am currently attending TCIS, a Christian school, where it holds meeting every Tuesdays to praise God. I, therefore, am exposed of Christian environment frequently and I hear the speakers’ powerful words spreading the words of God in every meetings. However, I guess my faith is not strong enough, because once I step out of the chapel room, regardless of how strong my determination, I’d always forget my commitment I made during the chapel room. Although, I try to place God as my first priority, very often, many barriers like school work, SAT, and other activities stands high between God and I. Likewise, the Sawi people had similar situation. They also were exposed to the Christian influence from Don Richardson, who attempted to spread the words of God, in best of his ability, apart from the fact that the language and culture was far different from one another. However, Don Richardson did succeed in constructing the building, a place to serve God. This showed how strong the faith of Sawi people were in trusting Don Richardson's words and enabled him to reach his goal, even though, they had much unfavorable situation than my situation. I hope from this novel, I would be inspired to place God as my first priority as Sawi people did by giving up their own traditional belief and fully devouting themsevles to God.

 What concepts in the Sawi culture intregued / reviled / saddened / angered / surprised you?

The book vividly described the culture of the Sawi tribe and I realized that there was a huge gap between the culture of the Sawi and the culture of our world. The modern standards in our society view Cannibalism and polygamy as immoral but to them, it was part of their culture. My initial response to the Sawi’s “cultural” rituals was that these tribes are lawless society who does not have any principles that they abide by. However, as Don Richardson further explained the Sawi, I came to a conclusion that it was their oppressive environment filled with betraying cultures that made those practices a norm for their society. For instance, the concept of “feeding with friendship and consuming at the end” was typical concept that Sawi lived by; in fact, they praised those who betrays others. Thus, nobody could truly believe anyone with sincerity. On the other hand, our society enables us to entrust other people more openly. The surprising but relieving factor that Don Richardson mentioned was that although the Sawi cultures who are adopted in these treacherous and savage environments also had rules that they abide by. Apparent example of how Sawi adhered to their principles is portrayed in the exchange of peace child among the tribes. The Peace child symbolizes the ultimate peace among the tribes, and after the exchange of peace child, the qurrael and disputes that frequently led tribes to the verge of war submerged and each tribe kept their words by keeping harmony with each other. To me, this was relieving factor because it suggests that Sawi does follow rules once they accept them, which means that there is a greater possibility that they could accept “modern” society’s standards. Don Richardson successfully converting few Sawi people into Christianity is a living proof that Sawi abide by rules. Although, the process of Don Richardson trying to provide appropriate example of describing who the God is using Sawi culture, once the people accepted those “translation” of God into Sawi culture, they had faith in God. With their strong faith, they were able to build temples, a place to serve God.

What do mission organizations do for these people?

Mission organization sends missionaries to the remote and isolated regions to provide shelter and knowledge for the people who lack what we view as “essentials” in life. However, mission organizations’ primary motivation is to spread the Gospel. Bibles and the stories of Christianity may be ubiquitous within our society; however, there are many remote places in the world where there might even have communities that havne't even heard of Christina belief. It is to these remote places that mission organizations are willing to sacrifice their own routine life and time in order to guide and inform others the words of God. Don Richardson was one of the missionaries. I guess he was very courageous figure even among the missionaries because Papua New Guinea was an isolated place where savagery and treachery was a cultural norm, in which not many missionaries volunteered. The journey posed a huge threat to Don Richardson as well as his family because Sawi practiced Cannibalism and they were aggressive to foreign peoples. Despite these unfavorable conditions, Don Richardson voluntarily provided services for the Sawi people who were not aware of the Christianity. Some skeptics say that it is not right for us to intervene in the Sawi’s way of living because it would obstruct their cultural traditions. However, to this, I say that faith is something that is not determined by external “pressures,” rather, it is internal substance that grows within heart. Additionally, the missionaries never “force” anyone to serve for God. As illustrated in the Peace Child, some group of people in tribes did not attend the conference building because they still had faith in their traditional way of living, and nothing was done to them to harass any of their own beliefs. This suggests that mission organization does not force anyone to believe in what they believe in, rather, they are only providing the bridge to the faith that they would not have been exposed to without the aid of these organizations.

 What should society do for “uncivilized cultures” like the Sawi?

As mentioned earlier, the “uncivilized cultures” like Sawi has to have chance to be informed of other cultures and be able to choose according to their own will. In our standard, “uncivilized” Sawi people are living in a harsh conditions without what we considered to be essentials in our lives; stable shelter, proper food, and clothing. Thus, we should not neglect those people whose population is steadily declining as they continue to practice cannibalism and exposed to dangerous environment like diseases. In order to keep trace of the cultures like Sawi, we need to accommodate and convince them to live under the protection of the recent technology that we are offering them. However, we should never force them to adapt into our own way because they have their distinctive way of living by adjusting in that wild envrionment. Thus, we only need to accept those who are willing to change and not obstruct their originial way of living.

What should we do when we are confronted with other cultures?(faith)

Each community has their own distinct cultural tradition that they have developed overtime. But the difference in the culture might lead to utter clash when they are confronted. Even in our modern day, this can be reflected in the tables from different countries. For instance, Korean tables tend to have hot dishes like Kimchi while American tables tend to have bread and jams. Thus, when tables are switched, they would not be able to adopt very easily. Likewise, when cultures of Sawi and Don Rinchardson with more than thousands of years of gap met, there were severe confusion and fear between the two. For instance, the Sawi referred the “modern people” with recent technology as Tuan, who were respected and feared. Although, Don Richardson faced tremendous difficulty as he was even threatened of his life, he was able to accommodate with the other culture and succeeded in establishing a building that meant to serve God. This was a great leap forward for the Sawi people, because the purpose in the construction of that building was valuable since symbolized how they now would more willingly accept the changes that will be brought within their society. Once they accept the changes, Cannibalism and dangerous environment filled with diseases from unsanitary conditions and killing between the peoples might well be removed. But the book mentions that some people continued to keep their culture regardless of how the others adopted to other cultures, and I think this is the best way to prevent any dangerous riot against any authority who is trying others to adopt their own cultures by force. Providing offers whether they want to change their culture or whether they want to live as they want.

How does Faith relate to the world in which we live?

Faith includes a belief in anything that is internal, however, it is largely external factors that formulate our faith, and it is our environment that takes that role. Everyday experiences within certain environment largely shape the faith that one has. For instance, daily routine and interaction with the individuals within certain communities will influence what Faith you would have. As Sawi culture is distinct with our culture today, the faith in which we believe in is also far apart from one another. Faith guides the way how a person would act within certain situation, so without faith one would be in utter fear, and for Sawi, because they solely relied their faith in their traditional way of living, when they were encountered by the new kind of conflict, only three elderly people in the tribe were able to stand out to meet the Dutch boat that their ancestors never mentioned about. Thus, this reflects how Sawi derive most of their faith from the stories that are passed down from their ancestors. In contrast, our faith covers variety of subjects as they are derived from many different and distinct environments like Europe, America, and Asia. These differences allowed people to have more liberal view about the faith. In our world, faith acts as a fuel for our action, for instance, some people believe that working hard in school might lead to eventual success, in which, that faith enable to study them harder. While some, like Don Richardson, believes that spreading the words of God would save many people acts as a fuel for them to work.

How do I relate to faith? How did Don Richardson relate to Faith? How do the Sawi relate to faith?

Sawi Village
The faith covers variety of concepts that it is sometimes complicated to develop the understanding of faith. The faith covers belief in anything, as code of ethics, standards, merits, and doctrines. In reading this book, I realized that Sawi’s faith was special one and they had strong faith in what they believed in. Sawi had faith in their traditional way of living; the belief that if they keep their living as the way that their ancestors did, they will be prosperous and could maintain their living. In keeping their faith, they had to live in accord to their accentors, thus, they continued with “practices” that descended from their ancestors. For instance, the people adopted Cannibalism, nomadic way of living, and created a society where treachery was a norm. Due to this unstable environment no one had enough courage and strength to challenge the environment established by the “authority”. Thus, their faith was well reflected in their actions. As for me, Sawi’s faith and my faith is somewhat similar because as an individual in the society, I tended to accept the common belief or faith established within the society, thus, Sawi and I were conformed to the way how majority believed in. However, the difference between Sawi from “our modern culture” was that our society with variety of community enabled to accept more of a difference between each community and allowed more liberal ideas to spread, that led to the progresses from our ancestry way of living. While the Sawi advocated traditional measures that they lived the way how their ancestors lived. Don Richardson’s faith was beyond ordinary, he had strong faith in God in which he even made a decision of giving up the security of the family as a household in order to spread the word of God. He had faith in God that he would protect him and his family as well on the journey to the dangerous society. I believe Don Richardson’s faith exceeded that of Sawi’s faith in keeping their traditional way of living because Don Richardson successfully converted many Sawi tribes into Christianity by speaking louder than that of Sawi faith that God was the savior of the World. In doing so, Don Richardson cleverly divided bits of information about Christ into Sawi cultural practices to enhance the understanding. Thus, his faith was strong enough to change the principle that the environment had been practicing for a long time.