The first story, which also happens to have the same title as the book, This Way for the Gas Ladies and Gentlemen is engaging although it portrays a very horrible story. It is engaging because it is the start of the exposure to reality, however, the reality in it will really make your stomach turn upside down. It was narrated how Borowski witnessed men fought for their lives, either kill or get killed, in order to survive. Ironic it may seem but that was the reality shown in the book. It illustrated the manner that fifteen thousand people were transferred to the bath houses, mothers running away from their dead children and infants, the author taking corps that seem to try to hold on to him.
This horrifying depiction of what happened and what the people did in order to survive showed how much they really wanted to get through those very trying times. Perhaps not just to preserve their lives but to live on to tell about those days. What good would that do The only thing I can think of is to make the people who will learn about it in the future know that such practice is despicable.
The January Offensive on the other hand tackled another aspect that somehow kept the people at the camp held on and hoped, which was religion. However, in this particular story, the author questions how the Germans could claim to have religion and faith while doing such inhumanely activities like sending men into their death. In this manner of putting it, it can be shown that the author somehow seems to have given up on religion because of the dehumanization that is happening around. There seem to be no morals anymore, which usually sprout from religion.
Then again, on the part of the prisoners, it was another thing. Religion or faith was one of their driving forces to live, or at least wait until their final days. They looked to God for strength, comfort and hope. It showed how much they wanted to see things in a better light despite the fact that they were drowned in darkness. Thus, this chapter provided a message on how religion was used or viewed differently in that time, where the Germans setting it aside putting it on shelves while the prisoners grappled hard to it for strength and hope.
In the story on The Death of Schillniger, it provided a glimpse on the obliviousness of those administering the gas chamber of the loathsomeness of their actions. The author started by describing First Sergeant Schillinger who was the chief commanding officer or Lagerfuehrer of labour section D, a part of the concentration camp. The author was keen to provide details on how he looked (which he did not care too much about), how he did his work, and how people reacted whenever he was around, which was usually characterized by fear and apprehension. He was one of those people who boast of their ability to kill and took delight in watching people shoved into the chambers.
His death was narrated using a conversation between the author and the foreman. It said that what caused Schillingers death was due to an attraction to a womans body who was about to be gassed. He was suppose to claim her but the woman fought, shove his eyes with gravel, took his revolver and fired at him. The death itself is quite significant because it showed how even at the end, some people who were to be put to death still held on to their virtue. What is more interesting however was the fact that when Schillinger was being carried away from where he was shot, he was actually asking God what he did to deserve such a thing
I can only grimace at this part of the story. For one not to know what he did wrong after taking away the lives of many people seems so absurd. Moreover, he asking God about it makes it worse because it can be deduced that somehow, he believed in God. However, that belief did not manifest in his practices, for he took pleasure in doing things that God would surely condemn. The only explanation I can draw from this, which I myself find hard to accept, is that those Germans were blind on what was right and wrong, if not, they have created and accepted their own definition and qualification of it.
The last story I would focus on is Auschwitz, Our Home (A Letter). The use of the term Fatherland to refer to the place the prisoners stayed is like an acceptance of their fate, which will end up in their doom. It illustrated how prisoners did own nothing of what belonged to them for their material things will be taken once they died while their body, all of it, including their bones and burnt flesh will be utilized later. This illustration indeed shows how inhumane the practices were. It also showed how the author started to lose his idealism. He claimed that the world and all the things in it are not reflections of the ideal, rather a fruit of human blood, sweat and hard work. Furthermore, he stated that There can be no beauty if it is paid for by human injustice, nor truth that passes over injustice in silence, nor moral virtue that condones it.
This chapter showed two things, acceptance and rejection. The people somehow have accepted their fate and just tried to live it, although not the way they wanted to but the way that it would be permitted. The rejection or lose of idealism was also manifested with the author finally giving up old beliefs. In both instances, I cannot really decide on which situation was more unfortunate. This chapter showed how the situation at that time managed to influence mens beliefs and understanding. Looking at it, it may seem so awful but it might have helped the prisoners lived their lives less badly.
Tadeusz Borowski must be commended for this book for he succeeded beyond providing information to readers he was able to share an account that would be imprinted both in the hearts and minds of the readers. I personally am not that informed about the holocaust prior to reading this book but now, I feel like I have lived it along with those people who shared their story.
I can feel nothing but condemnation for the Germans for their very inhumane practices at that time. Even now, although it has been years since the event happened, and even though I only experienced it by reading the book, I can strongly feel the anger and hatred towards those people. The holocaust is a part of the history that should never have happened, however, since it already had, it should never ever happen again. This book and the narrations of the authors should be used as an instrument to remind who ever decides to repeat this abominable event to think twice. The holocaust is really disgusting and unjustifiable. I cannot imagine how those people who administered the killings were able to keep living as if they did nothing wrong. Thus, it is quite understandable why Borowski decided to take his life, although the practice is not moral as well, because too much burden being carried by your conscience could really bring you to the edge. It only goes to show that Barowski still had a conscience after all.
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