Journal Entry #17

Journal Entry #17
Chapter 17 : The Story of Ten Days

The story of ten days is a very long chapter, and this story of ten days with his friend Aurthur and Charles is unbelievable. Despite the harsh environment and illness they had, they mentioned to survive until help came to them. They found food to sustain them from starving to death and they also found enough water that wasn't contaminated to quench their thirst. Also, the weak and the sick were left behind the camps, which meant that it was highly capable for him to catch contagious diseases from these sick men. Primo and his friends, however, managed to find enough food, water, and warmth to help each other survive until help came to them. This was maybe possible since they were so used to the harsh cnoditions, and the primitive way of surviving hunger and thirst.
It was ironic how the people were filled with hope when they were being evacuated from the camps. The people who were wealthy enough to march, were hoping that they would find a new refuge much better than Auschwitz, and they thought that this would all end. This, however, was a march towards death, not towards a new start.
"for the first time since the day of my arrest I found myself free, without armed guards, without wire fences between myself and home." For the first time in Primo's life after his arrest, he is not being watched. I wonder how it felt like for him to feel the sense of freedom, and know that no one was watching him. It was probably overwhelming for him, or maybe even awckward for him that he wasn't being watched.
Levi also states, "Today I think that if for no other reason than that an Auschwitz existed, no one in our age should speak of Providence." This shows how skeptical he was about religion and God, since it seemed ilke God had forsaken Auschwitz and Primo survived on his own and by luck. This may be an opposing viewpoint for many believers, but we have to understand that we do not know what he has gone through, and I can understand why he is so skeptical about God. If I were in such situation, I would have probably blamed God for not rescuing me.
To wrap up, even though Primo is now a free man, I think he would never be able to live fully as a free man. His memories will always haunt him, and the images will never fade away. Though officially free, I think he will still live as a prisoner in heart.