Inside the concentration camps during WWII, the German guards committed many unthinkable horrific actions on the Jewish prisoners. They first peacefully entered numerous Jewish towns, making friends with the Jews living there. They quickly changed, becoming cruel and vicious. “Evacuating” the Jews to the concentration camps, they then either killed or set them to work. Inumerable of the Jews gave up hope and condemned themselves to death. However, despite their many hardships, many of the Jews were kind and compassionate with their fellow inmates, and managed to keep hope alive through their selfless deeds. Through these several acts of affection, Elie and his father were able to persevere through the living hell. The first unprecedented act of compassion occurred when the random unnamed stranger instructed Elie and his father to lie about their ages, and claim to be eighteen and forty years old This
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The girl was a Jew, passing off as an Aryan deportee. Even by muttering a few words in German, she was risking being discovered and forced into one of the camps. She later disclosed to Elie that she had known of the danger, recalling how “‘At the warehouse no one knew I could speak German...Saying those few words were risky, but I knew you wouldn’t give me away,’” (51). The girl was extremely brave and generous with Elie, sharing the little amount of bread she had. The girl had no reason to sympathize with Elie, as they had never spoken and had only worked together. However, her thoughtful and understanding words must have helped Elie deal with the pain. The French girl’s risky and caring assistance to Elie demonstrates that throughout any hardships and traumas people may experience, some will always show compassion to
The girl was a Jew, passing off as an Aryan deportee. Even by muttering a few words in German, she was risking being discovered and forced into one of the camps. She later disclosed to Elie that she had known of the danger, recalling how “‘At the warehouse no one knew I could speak German...Saying those few words were risky, but I knew you wouldn’t give me away,’” (51). The girl was extremely brave and generous with Elie, sharing the little amount of bread she had. The girl had no reason to sympathize with Elie, as they had never spoken and had only worked together. However, her thoughtful and understanding words must have helped Elie deal with the pain. The French girl’s risky and caring assistance to Elie demonstrates that throughout any hardships and traumas people may experience, some will always show compassion to