Dehumanization in Survival in Auschwitz by Primo Levi

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Humanization and Dehumanization
Original Title
Tone of Narration
Holocaust Stories
Reaction to the Story
Conclusion
Works Cited

Introduction

Primo Levis book provides every reader with an opportunity to analyze his or her beliefs and assume how he or she would behave when placed in similar conditions. Besides, the text questions the notion of freedom. The purpose of this paper is to dwell upon the dynamics of humanization and dehumanization of people observed in the book by Levi and discuss the overall impressions of the story.

Humanization and Dehumanization

In general, the book raises concerns about the liberal understanding of freedom. The experience obtained in the lager refutes the traditional understanding of such definitions as good and evil, justice and injustice (Harrowitz 48). In particular, freedom should not be achieved as a result of resistance since this is an inalienable right of any person regardless of his or her background.

Such an understanding of freedom does not evolve immediately. Initially, the author allows reflecting upon the processes of humanization and dehumanization. Levi writes that the camp is a well-established mechanism, which has been created to turn some groups of people into animals. For this reason, the prisoners should not become animals and should resist the force to remain humans. According to the book, a person can survive even in a place like a lager (Harrowitz 51). However, to live, a person needs to save his or her human image.

The dynamics of dehumanization is different from that of the opposite process. It can be assumed that dehumanization is related to the perpetrators in the first place rather than to the victims who have to experience various sufferings. The camp guards were losing their human image in a gradual manner simultaneously with their intensifying perceptions of what could be considered subhuman and why. Therefore, the more the perpetrators were viewing Jews as animals and the worse they were treating them, the more dehumanized these people became (Harrowitz 49). It can be stated that committed violence is not a form of dehumanization. The actual dehumanization lies in the meaning attributed to harassing others since it reflects the internal intention to have more power over other people.

The dynamics of humanization is pulsating, and it either grows faster or slows down due to the character of Levis narration. It is possible to observe how humanity shines through the darkness of cruelty. For instance, the writer stressed how happy and lucky he was to preserve Albertos companionship (Levi 60). Also, he makes multiple allusions to his friendship with Lorenzo, which enables concluding that human companionship has the potential to brighten up life even in the most terrible conditions.

The reader can judge the efforts made by the afflicted humanity to resist systematic annihilation when reading descriptions of situations when the victims help each other out of their goodness. For example, Lorenzo wrote and sent postcards on Levis behalf. He also brought a reply to Primo. He gave food to his friend and supported him, and for all this, he neither asked nor accepted any reward, because he was good and simple and did not think that one did well for a reward (Levi 139). Such actions are remarkable examples of humanization, which takes place against the background of perpetrators degradation. Importantly, such choices gave meaning to the lives of prisoners and pushed them to continue saving humanity.

Original Title

The meaning of Levis original title can be interpreted differently based on an individuals views, values, and perceptions. Nevertheless, it is rather clear that this title encompasses all the rhetoric questions and queries raised by the story and summarizes them in one question. Depending on the standpoint, the title can be related to either the victims or the perpetrators. The Jewish people who had to face such sufferings were rather likely to lose the feeling of their self-identity as well as their human features; therefore, it would be reasonable to question whether people could preserve something human in themselves after facing such tortures and humiliations. Nonetheless, after finishing the book, it is possible to answer this question positively. Thus, the original title of the story addresses the perpetrators since it is impossible to answer whether a living being can be considered a human after inflicting so much pain on someone.

Tone of Narration

The tone of the narrative is quite unbiased and detached even though the author tells about the events that he has experienced himself (Thomson 321). Levi reveals the details and gives multiple descriptions of the setting to recreate the events and the environment in the readers mind. Nevertheless, the author does not assess to enhance the impression of the events. It has been done to ensure that everyone who reads the book draws independent conclusions, and the author does not interfere with his suggestions of how a person should feel in such an environment.

Holocaust Stories

Levis book has much in common with The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. It is similar to Levis book in that it reflects how spirituality and humanity can feed the soul during suffering. Even though this story has more romanticism to it, its core is related to Levis story since it also stresses the importance of being human in any setting (Zusak 561). Nonetheless, Primos story is very different from everything that I have read about the Holocaust since it analyzes every little detail, and every step-by-step change in a person that leads to the loss of identity or vice versa allows preserving humanity to survive.

Reaction to the Story

I am glad that have I read this book because it made me notice every little aspect that makes a person a human being. I would not want to reread it because I believe that it contains many details that remained unnoticed during the first reading, which will intensify my shock if I turn to this story again. The manner of narration of the author is remarkable since it immerses the reader into the required atmosphere without imposing the authors opinion. Also, when reading the book, it is possible to detect the moments when the author experienced the greatest shock and strongest impressions. For example, Levi describes in detail the arrival of Italian transport, the first hours in the camp, and the process of disinfection (Levi 43). Also, he describes the meeting with Steinlauf, which will be memorized due to his speech that it is necessary to remain a civilized person despite all sufferings (Levi 39). Between these descriptions, there are memories of the daily routine, habituation, and much more, but it is not imprinted in the memory so much because the author is understood better through those points that were mentioned above.

Conclusion

Thus, it can be concluded that the book by Primo Levi challenges readers to test themselves and their beliefs when placed in the environment of the lager. It enables us to evaluate the efforts needed to remain human in the inhumane setting. However, more importantly, the story pushes the audience to assess the importance of freedom and equality, which should be the inalienable rights of any person.

Works Cited

Harrowitz, Nancy. Primo Levi and the Identity of a Survivor. University of Toronto Press, 2016.

Levi, Primo. If this Is a Man. Translated by Stuart Woolf, The Orion Press, 1959.

Thomson, Ian. Primo Levi: A Life. Henry Holt and Company, 2014.

Zusak, Markus. The Book Thief. 10th ed., Random House, 2016.

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