L.C. #3

a. THEME-

It's human nature to survive even in the worst of situations, even pushing man to abandon morals just for the benefit of thier own selfish desires.

b. CHARACTER-

Knowing the painful truth of some secrets are very overwhelming, and in this case, Moshe the Beadle had stared death in the eye before being shut down by people that didn't want to believe in the truth.

a.

1. "One day when we had stopped, a workman took a piece of bread out of his bag and threw it into a wagon. There was a stampede. Dozens of starving men fought each other to the death for a few crumbs." (Pg. 95)
2. "He had reached the first cauldron. Hearts raced: he had succeeded. Jealousy consumed us, burned us up like a straw. We never thought for a moment of admiring him. Poor hero, committing suicide for a ration of soup! In our thoughts we were murdering him." (Pg. 57)
3. "Someone had the idea of appeasing his thirst by eating the snow. Soon the others were imitating him. As we were not allowed to bend down, everyone took out his spoon and ate the accumulated snow off his neighbors back. A mouthful or bread and a spoonful of snow. "      (Pg. 92)
4. "His son searched him, took the bread, and began to devour it. He was not able to get very far. Tao men had seen and hurled themselves upon him. Others joined in. When they withdrew, next to me were two corpses, side by side, the father and the son." (Pg. 96)

b.

1. "I witnessed other hangings. I never saw a single one of the victims weep. For a long time those dried-up bodies had forgotten the bitter taste of tears." (Pg 60) 
2. "Jews, listen to me. It's all I ask of you. I don't want money or pity. Only listen to me," he would cry between prayers at dusk and the evening prayers." (Pg. 4)
3. "You don't understand. I have even saved miraculously. I managed to get back here. Where did I get the strength from? I wanted to come back to Sighet to tell you the story of my death. So that you could prepare yourselves while there was still time. To live? I don't attach any importance to my life anymore. I'm alone." (Pg. 5)
4. "Moshe the Beadle came running to our house. "I warned you," he cried to my father. And, without waiting for a reply, he fled." (Pg. 8)

Positive lessons of the Holocaust are learning about how inhumanity can change a person both physically and mentally. The purpose of having faith is to have enough hope to keep moving without losing the will to live. Redemption of man after such a horrible thing is possible, but in Hitler's case, he'd need to save the entire world from hunger and violence to be forgiven. And to maybe give every Jew on the planet a million dollars.