HallahanS Second Reader Responce

Now that we have started to read more, we are in the middle of the story. I kind of hate to say it, but I think it’s easier to read this book because you want to keep reading o find out what happens next. A lot of books that we read in school are hard to stay focused on and you don’t want to read them, but this one is actually pretty interesting. One thing that is hard to listen to though is to keep reminding yourself that this isn’t just a story. It actually happened. Am I the only one wondering why that act like it is normal to be naked a lot? He says, “I undressed leaving my clothes on my cot. Tonight, there was no danger that they would be stolen… All the block inmates stood naked between the rows of the bunks” (71). They had to be naked for selection; everyone did. No one made a fuss and the just stood there. They were altogether for shower too. I think that would be awkward and embarrassing but apparently not to them. But I think that they are all too afraid to complain because they don’t really have a choice because if they don’t listen then they are killed. Even still, I think that would be very uncomfortable. Is it different for guys and girls though? Either way, I think that would be something very hard for all of us to have to adjust to.

There are still a lot of extreme punishments that are spoken about in this section. For example, a younger male is found guilty of messing around with the wiring system of the electric barbed wire fences. The leaders of their camp saw this as an opportunity to teach the rest of the inmates a lesson. Along with the younger male, two other men were also found guilty too. They decided to hang all three of the men, yet some of the SS leaders thought it might be dangerous to hang a child in front of everyone. This was one of the saddest parts for me. It says, “But the third rope was still moving: the child, too light, was still breathing…” (65). This part was so sad to me because I feel like if someone is going to be killed for crime, they should not have to suffer through it. That poor boy had to suffer through that pain and everyone was forced to watch. I can’t imagine having to watch someone suffer right there in front of me and knowing that I couldn’t help at all. How would you handle it? I don’t think it’s right at all.

Another thing we see is Wiesel’s dedication to not leaving his father. When there was a possibility that his father did not pass selection, we see how close he is to him. When that is the only person you have left, I don’t blame him. My dad and I are very close and I could not see myself being separated from him too. When that is all you have, how could you give them up? I would feel too lonely and everything would seem so scary and hopeless. I don’t know how Elie will survive if his father leaves him.