Primo Levi's Stay Analysis

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Under strict power from Nazi soldiers during World War II, the people of the Jewish population were ridiculed, beaten, abused, and forced to live in horrible conditions, without consent or control. Adolf Hitler had control over Germany, with as many soldiers to obey his every cruel command. As horrible acts are committed during this mass genocide towards the Jewish people, one may begin to question if they still are in control of their humanity, just as Primo Levi was forced to question his own during his stay at Auschwitz. At the beginning of Levi’s stay, he is unsure as to where he actually is and what is going to take place while he is in this “Rubber facility” producing Buna. Upon further de-humanizing events like being stripped of all his clothes, and being given a number permanently on his body with a “slightly painful tool with a very short needle” (Levi, 27) and “only by showing one’s number’ can one get bread and soup” (Levi, 28) Levi begins to realize that where he is, is not going to be good. Levi’s new friend, Steinhauf, tells him that no matter what, he must hang on to his humanity in any way he can. The Nazi regime did every thing possible to de- humanize an individual, but were they successful during this attempt? Without question, the Nazis were successful in physically de-humanizing Levi, as well as all his fellow prisoners …show more content…

“How long is it since I have seen a woman?” (Levi, 142) The reader sees just how de-humanized Levi feels upon these women seeing him working in the laboratory. “Faced with the girls of the laboratory, we three feel ourselves sink into the ground from shame and embarrassment.” (Levi, 142) Levi demonstrates to the reader that he has been de-humanized so much, that something as simplistic as seeing a woman, can make him feel emotions of hatred towards

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