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
Every aspect of civilization is devalued so that everyone is under the same system created by the Nazis. Humans are devalued to the status of animals, lacking dignity and pride. The Canada men "carry [the babies] like chickens" (116), showing their surrender to the system of the Nazis. Prisoners are "working their jaws greedily, like huge human insects" (113) and a Nazi woman is described as "ratlike...withered...and repulsive," (117) unlike typical humans outside the camp. The narrator compares the Greeks to "Pigs!" (117) several times and the Nazis often say "Schweinerei" (117), meaning pig in German. Comparison of a human to a pig by both Canada men and S.S. men, shows that the Nazis have already wiped their values onto the prisoners. Incomers who arrive at the camp are treated with anger and disgust, reminding the prisoners of their lost values and showing a glimpse of the outside world. The Nazis and the prisoners feel better than the incomers and quickly reject them and their system of values in forms of anger. The Canada men "brutally tear suitcases from their [prisoners] hands, [and] impatiently pull of their coats" (118). As a "woman reaches down quickly to pick up her handbag. A whip flies, the woman screams, stumbles, and falls" (115) The narrator says, "I don't know why, but I am furious, simply furious with these people-furious because I must be here because of them. I feel no pity. I am not sorry they're going to the gas chamber." (116) The prisoners feel anger toward the incomers because "the easiest way to relieve your hate is to turn against someone weaker." (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. Since a civilization is based on pure values, these values must be united as one in
Some common words found in the essay are:
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,
Approximate Word count = 1225
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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