This Way to the GAs, Ladies and GEntlemen
Civilization in Borowski's concentration camp is an embodiment of peoples' values. Many value systems conflict and mix, yet only the inhumane, unnatural values of the Nazi system exists. The prisoners can either accept these values in resignation, or bravely face actuality and die with honor and pride. The Greeks, low-classed prisoners in the concentration camp, always "make the best of it." (116) and manage to "stuff their bellies with anything they can find" (116) despite their living circumstances. A young woman with "soft blonde hair" (119) continues to have "a shade of proud contempt in her voice"(119) even though she "know[s]" (119) that she will "later [go to] same gas chamber" (119). The weaker prisoners, unwilling to face reality, "cover their eyes" (116) and shield themselves from the horror of knowing the truth, while an old, seemingly weak woman "takes the little corpses out of [the narrator's] hands...and gazes straight into my eyes" (116), unafraid to stand up for her beliefs. On the contrary, a young mother is "covering her face with her hands...[she] wants to hide, to reach those who will not ride the trucks." (118) While the brave prisoners face reality and are willing to die with pride, she even denies that she
" (121) The prisoners are relenting to the Nazis and letting them build their evil empire. Every aspect of civilization is devalued so that everyone is under the same system created by the Nazis. " (116) Even the prisoners feel no sympathy for the incomers because the outside and inside worlds of the camp do not mix; only one world can exist. and reads from a Hebrew praying book, wailing loudly, [and] monotonously," (111) the prisoners, who have loss of belief, react towards him angrily, telling someone to "shut him up" (111) and even saying that "Religion is the opium of the people" (111). Humans are devalued to the status of animals, lacking dignity and pride. Her bravery stands out for while she is near the "gas chamber: communal and disgusting" (118), she faces these horrors and "with a natural gesture she runs her hands down her blouse, casually straightens her skirt. Yet, ironically, they do so without resistance as the ending phrase shows this significance, "We move out of their way. The Nazis create a new civilization by pouring their values over the prisoners through devaluation of everyone, humans and religion alike. As a "woman reaches down quickly to pick up her handbag. Humans are devaluated to have animal-like qualities without respect or dignity. man "laughs jovially" (119) and calls "In half an hour you'll be talking with the top commandant! Only don't forget to greet him with a Heil Hitler!" (119) When a rabbi "cover[s] his head with a piece of rag. men show no fear towards god so the prisoners' slight glimpse of hope now shatters.
Common topics in this essay:
Heil Hitler,
Civilization Borowski's,
Une Morgue,
SS Nazis,
Nazis Prisoners,
Nazis Humans,
Nazis Schweinerei,
Greeks Pigs,
German Comparison,
beauty dignity,
beauty dignity humanity,
prisoners feel,
dignity humanity,
gas chamber,
prisoners lost,
eyes 116,
system values,
camp narrator,
116 prisoners feel,
nazi values,
people 111,
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Acceptance Essays
