I feel like this example shows some of the most positive and negative aspects of human nature. Elizer was beaten for no reason and his father was beaten for marching out of step to a job he wouldn't be doing if people accepted his heritage and that he would have gotten to weather he was marching in time or not. This shows the worst side of the human mind. Actually, if I recall correctly the officer who beat Elizer's father did so to get revenge on Elizer for not giving up the gold crown on his tooth. The man, Franek, actually says to Elizer, "If you don't give me your crown, it will cost you much more!" (55) But that is besides the point, before that man is in charge, there was a man named Idek in command and he is the one who beats Elizer. After Elie is beaten, the French woman risks her safety to console him, wiping the blood from his face, giving him some bread she had been saving, speaking to him in German even though it was a risk. If one of the Nazi men had heard her speaking to him, she could have been found out and killed, so I find her effort to console him amazing considering the risk it took.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Viki Response 2 (47-84)
At the opening of this section, the Jews have just arrived in a new camp, Buna. While there, Elizer (in the story his father calls him Elizer so I find it a bit easier to connect by using his given name) and his father were beaten terribly, Elizer was beaten for no reason and his father was abused far more often for not marching in step with the rest of the men. After Elizer was beaten, the French woman who sat next to him in the warehouse he was working in spoke to him for the first time. In speaking to him, she risked exposing the fact that she was in fact Jewish (she was a forced labour worker from France, Aryan) just to give him a ration of bread and say to him, "Bite your lips... Don't cry. Keep your anger, your hate, for another day, for later. The day will come but not now... Wait. Clench your teeth and wait." (53)
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I concur with everything you mentioned in this post. I agree that this section of the text revealed a great deal about human nature, both the good and the bad. There was absolutely no reason to attack Elie whatsoever. How could a man attack a child simply because he became angry due to an incurrence or an idea that was probably entirely unrelated? I was stunned and my heart pained for Elie and the rest of the Jews who had to suffer Idek's hideous wrath. I also agree that it was incredibly wrong that Elie's father was beaten for marching in an "insufficient" manner in the eyes of the officers. His father clearly did not know how to march correctly, and he obviously didn't anticipate having to ever practice it, especially in such a dire situation. Another point that I'm glad you addressed was the issue with the French woman. I think she was very selfless in trying to comfort Elie when she could have been caught speaking to him. She risked severe punishment and death to console him; this clearly represents the positive aspects of human nature, and shows us that deep down, we should have some faith in mankind. After all, people like this woman can be found all around; one only has to look.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree, I think that these are perfect examples of positive and negative aspects of human nature. First off let me start by saying, Isn't it hard to believe that this whole deadly situation happened because humans cannot except each other for who they are. This negative aspect of human nature is something that we still battle today. Humanity is not accepting and that is what got us into this whole "mess". I also find it appauling how horrible a human can treat another human being. The situation when Wiesel and his father are beaten for no reason really bothered me. I just don't understand how someone can be that cruel. These are perfect examples for negative aspects of human nature.
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