To what extent will man go to ensure his survival? Explore with references to 'If this is a man' by Primo Levi.

Subject  > Literature Research Papers  > European Literature  > Poetry

In 'If this is a man' by Primo Levi the male inmates vary greatly, yet each goes to great lengths trying to ensure his survival. Each has different ways in which he tries to survive, depending on the personality of the individual. In life there always comes a point in which the circumstances are so horrific that ones survival instincts take over and any act, no matter how horrific, is then considered normal as long as one survive and so morals become relative. In If this is a Man there are many different personality types who have different ways of surviving, each of them now considered immoral. However, this was the only way they could survive. Each ...

... like the death camps it is easy for outsiders to condemn and claim the way the people are acting is immoral and disgusting, almost like animals would act. This is evident in the title 'If this is a Man'; To me the title expresses the dehumanizing experience these men endured and asks the question can the men in the book be classified as 'men' because of their actions and at what point do we cease to be known as men. However the camp is not civilized and one has to fight to survive; there are no rules to abide by so it is impossible to act rationally. It does make us question

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