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.