The complexity of humanity, specifically the significance behind what is interpreted as being human, is an exceedingly prominent theme within Primo Levi’s Survival in Auschwitz. The humanity between the prisoners within the camp of Auschwitz and their captors is considerably inquired throughout the novel. There are several instances in which both prisoners and captors are no longer considered human – but what exactly does being human entail? What does it take for someone to no longer be considered human? The comprehension of dehumanization is essential when it comes to attempting to answer these questions, for one must first grasp the deprivation of certain aspects in another’s life and what this lack of qualities may cause someone to contemplate
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During their work, Jean, the Pikolo of their Kommando, comes down and requests that Levi go with him to pick up soup. As they take the long way to the soup kitchen, Levi decides that he genuinely wants to teach Jean Italian. With only a limited amount of time, he begins to recite the Canto of Ulysses from Dante’s Inferno. Although the passages are becoming unrecognizable, Levi is determined to share with Jean the sudden urgency he feels to tell the story. In a particular section, he states, “…think of your breed; for brutish ignorance… your mettle was not made; you were made men, to follow after knowledge and excellence…” (Levi 113). In Levi’s context, this statement was quite the opposite. The Nazis seemed to embrace ignorance, seeking to destroy all knowledge and excellence, especially of the Jews and their humanity. As Levi continues to recite, he begins to feel an overwhelming sense of realization of the message in which the text is giving him, relating it to their current situation. However before he can present the information to Jean, they arrive at the soup kitchen. He concludes with a final transcription, “… ‘and over our heads the hollow seas closed up’…” (Levi 115). Throughout the entire recollection of the excerpt, Levi spoke with a desperate tone, as if he was forgetting his own humanity. Recalling Dante, during their stress less walk, was …show more content…
When Levi first encounters the chemical examination, he recalls being observed as if he were of another kind, one much lower to that of the Germans, despite possessing several degrees in chemistry from an Italian university. As the exam progresses, it is as if Levi retrieves a piece of his identity, for he begins to recalls with excitement his studies and his thesis to the interviewer. However, as the interview ends and his fate is scribbled on a piece of paper, he is forced back into reality where he no longer is known to be an actual human being of intelligence. A similar case is shown when Levi is attempting to teach Jean Italian through the recitation of the Canto of Ulysses from Dante’s Inferno. As passages from the text begin to form within his mind, so do bits of his days outside the camp. He seemed to be drawing a conclusion from all the extractions, but, as before with the conference with the chemist, he was reminded of his place and everything was swallowed up once more. Perhaps what Levi was realizing was answering his own syllogism, “…if this is a human, then…”. After all, what does it mean to be human? Perhaps answering the syllogism with an inquiry would suffice, allowing for one to determine for themselves what it means to be human. Therefore, after examining the nature of Nazis and their effects on the Jews, one can ask, if this is a human, then what is
During their work, Jean, the Pikolo of their Kommando, comes down and requests that Levi go with him to pick up soup. As they take the long way to the soup kitchen, Levi decides that he genuinely wants to teach Jean Italian. With only a limited amount of time, he begins to recite the Canto of Ulysses from Dante’s Inferno. Although the passages are becoming unrecognizable, Levi is determined to share with Jean the sudden urgency he feels to tell the story. In a particular section, he states, “…think of your breed; for brutish ignorance… your mettle was not made; you were made men, to follow after knowledge and excellence…” (Levi 113). In Levi’s context, this statement was quite the opposite. The Nazis seemed to embrace ignorance, seeking to destroy all knowledge and excellence, especially of the Jews and their humanity. As Levi continues to recite, he begins to feel an overwhelming sense of realization of the message in which the text is giving him, relating it to their current situation. However before he can present the information to Jean, they arrive at the soup kitchen. He concludes with a final transcription, “… ‘and over our heads the hollow seas closed up’…” (Levi 115). Throughout the entire recollection of the excerpt, Levi spoke with a desperate tone, as if he was forgetting his own humanity. Recalling Dante, during their stress less walk, was …show more content…
When Levi first encounters the chemical examination, he recalls being observed as if he were of another kind, one much lower to that of the Germans, despite possessing several degrees in chemistry from an Italian university. As the exam progresses, it is as if Levi retrieves a piece of his identity, for he begins to recalls with excitement his studies and his thesis to the interviewer. However, as the interview ends and his fate is scribbled on a piece of paper, he is forced back into reality where he no longer is known to be an actual human being of intelligence. A similar case is shown when Levi is attempting to teach Jean Italian through the recitation of the Canto of Ulysses from Dante’s Inferno. As passages from the text begin to form within his mind, so do bits of his days outside the camp. He seemed to be drawing a conclusion from all the extractions, but, as before with the conference with the chemist, he was reminded of his place and everything was swallowed up once more. Perhaps what Levi was realizing was answering his own syllogism, “…if this is a human, then…”. After all, what does it mean to be human? Perhaps answering the syllogism with an inquiry would suffice, allowing for one to determine for themselves what it means to be human. Therefore, after examining the nature of Nazis and their effects on the Jews, one can ask, if this is a human, then what is