In this chapter Elie starts to lose his faith in god. Loss of faith in God begins at Auschwitz, when he sees babies burning. Eli even questions himself “Why should I bless His name?”. It is significant how a religious boy of just 15, who was brought up in a very religious environment stops believing in god. I understand that all these dreadful events are making him lose faith in god and hope, but I can’t understand why the Jews do not unite and fight against the Nazis.
Chapter 4
Elie and his father are selected to work at the electrical equipment warehouse. The leader of the group is a German Jew, who is kind to the members of the group. In their group, Elie makes friends with two Czech brothers, Yossi and Tibi. Together they plan of going to Palestine together if they survive the camps. Then Elie was sent to the dentist to get his gold tooth taken out, but he fakes that he is ill. When he returns to the dentist he finds out that the dentist had been hanged for selling gold teeth. He doesn’t feel sorry for him, because tooth could buy him food later on in his life at the camp. Elie is beaten by Kapo while working at the warehouse. A young French girl wiped his bloody lips and gave him a bit of bread. Another time, the kapo had beaten up Elie’s father in front of Elie’s eyes. Elie could only watch, because he was scared that he would have gotten beaten up as well. His father is beaten up every day until Elie gives his golden tooth. Ellie is given twenty-five lashes of the whip for walking in on kapo with a girl. The bombing filled prisoners with hope that Germany would be defeated soon.
Elie confesses: "I was a body. Perhaps less than that even: a starved stomach. The stomach alone was aware of the passage of time.", proving that Elie and other Jews have been treated inhumanly by the Nazis. I truly understand why Jews are starting to lose the faith in god. Perhaps, if me, my race, my nation or any other parts of my identity were treated subhuman, just like Jews in WWII, I would also stop believing in god. I still cannot believe how Nazis were able to torture prisoners like animals. Did they every think that his same thing could be happening to them?
Chapter 5
On New Year’s Eve, the Jewish prisoners gather to celebrate. As a revolt to god, Elie refuses to pray and to fast. Elie has been separated from his father and transferred to another barrack where he has to carry around heavy block of stone for half a day. He’s been told that the Buna camp used to be a disaster compared to now, but there are rumors of a selection process that worry Elie. In new selection they must run in front of the Gestapo doctors. When Elie’s turn comes, he runs as if his life depends on it. Elie finds out, that both, him and his dad passed the selection process. Ten prisoners had to repeat the selection. Elie’s father was one of them. Only a few of them, including Elie’s father survive the selection. Elie’s foot starts to swell during a cold winter. After the surgery, the camp is evacuated as the Red army gets closer.
I found it very thrilling, how the Gestapo doctors ordered to kill the weaker men, that haven’t passed the test, instead of helping them by giving them food, medicine and other things to make them stronger and healthier. I know that German SS officers were brainwashed and believed that they were a super race, but I don’t get how they didn’t show any sympathy towards the Jews and why did they let this happen.