Chapter 2 picks up with one of the first phases of the extermination: deportation. It tells of the torturous conditions that the Jews onboard one of these trains had to face. There were many of these conditions: little air, immense heat, cramped spaces, hunger, and thirst. These harsh conditions subjected upon the passengers, ignorant of their fate, results in a psychological breakdown. They lose their sense of public-ness. However, they start to realize that this was no ordinary trip, and this suspicion is confirmed when a German officer takes charge of their train. He reveals that he will shoot anyone who tried to escape.
The most notable character from this chapter is surely Madame Schächter, who is along with her ten-year-old son. She cracks underneath the harsh treatment, and starts screaming that she sees a fire outside. The Jews onboard become terrified, but soon comfort themselves by saying that she is crazy. She is tied up so she cannot scream, and her child watches and weeps. When she screams once more, she is beaten (by her own people, who support this action)
They finally reach Auschwitz. They are told that they’re at a labor camp, but that families will be kept together. This comforts the prisoners even further, but later Madame again starts to scream until beaten into a violent silence. The Jewish prisoners finally see their fate: the furnaces, barbed wire, and the smell of burnt flesh of the Bikenau camp.
The biggest idea present in the novel at this point is the cruelty towards humans. The Nazis cause, by treating the Jews as less than humans, them to do act as less than humans. Without societies laws, dignity, and deprivation of basic human rights, the Jews are exposed to a great dehumanization (notice: when in their ghettos, the Jews possessed at least a decent respect for one another and a large base of faith). The best example is when Madame’s fellow prisoners beat her up. I understand that it was to silence her (her rants made them scared), but to ruthless beat her with the support and encouragement of other prisoners is wrong.
Again the disbelief continues. The character of Madame is paralleled to Moshe (see the blog for chapter 1 for Moshe’s story).
However, as seen throughout history, the Jews try to reconcile themselves with an optimistic outlook and faith. During the Babylonian Exile, the Jews kept their faith strong by writing down the stories that had been passed down throughout generations orally. The Jews on the train, when Madame screams and yells, soothe themselves by calling her crazy. The Jews comfort themselves by knowing their families will be kept together in the labor camps.
The most notable character from this chapter is surely Madame Schächter, who is along with her ten-year-old son. She cracks underneath the harsh treatment, and starts screaming that she sees a fire outside. The Jews onboard become terrified, but soon comfort themselves by saying that she is crazy. She is tied up so she cannot scream, and her child watches and weeps. When she screams once more, she is beaten (by her own people, who support this action)
They finally reach Auschwitz. They are told that they’re at a labor camp, but that families will be kept together. This comforts the prisoners even further, but later Madame again starts to scream until beaten into a violent silence. The Jewish prisoners finally see their fate: the furnaces, barbed wire, and the smell of burnt flesh of the Bikenau camp.
The biggest idea present in the novel at this point is the cruelty towards humans. The Nazis cause, by treating the Jews as less than humans, them to do act as less than humans. Without societies laws, dignity, and deprivation of basic human rights, the Jews are exposed to a great dehumanization (notice: when in their ghettos, the Jews possessed at least a decent respect for one another and a large base of faith). The best example is when Madame’s fellow prisoners beat her up. I understand that it was to silence her (her rants made them scared), but to ruthless beat her with the support and encouragement of other prisoners is wrong.
Again the disbelief continues. The character of Madame is paralleled to Moshe (see the blog for chapter 1 for Moshe’s story).
However, as seen throughout history, the Jews try to reconcile themselves with an optimistic outlook and faith. During the Babylonian Exile, the Jews kept their faith strong by writing down the stories that had been passed down throughout generations orally. The Jews on the train, when Madame screams and yells, soothe themselves by calling her crazy. The Jews comfort themselves by knowing their families will be kept together in the labor camps.
'Listen to me, kid. Don’t forget that you are in a concentration camp. In this place, it is every man for himself, and you cannot think of others. Not even your father. In this place, there is no such thing as father, brother, friend. Each of us lives and dies alone.' (110)
4 comments:
This is a great summary of Chapter 2. It is a good size and there are a lot of good details. I liked the quote that you used it sums up the Chapter very will.
Good job focussing on the main points of Chpater 2. i can't believe that the Jews did not realize that something very bad was happening when they were being taken from their home towns. Especially with the conditions that they faced.
Good summary and quote. I tough the picture was really good too. Your quotes at the ends of the sections are excellent and I think they are very important in explaining what happens in the story.
I too very much enjoy your quotes. They do a great job to emphasize and legitimize the causes which you are trying to bring forward within the novel. Great job, you are a skilled appeaser.
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