There is a myriad of adjectives that could be applied to survivors of Hitler's nightmare concentration camps during the final years of World War II; lucky, miraculous, strong-willed and many others. However, what one must begin to consider as one ponders what the future of these survivors would be after liberation from the camps. Many, if not all, of these poor souls were scarred for the rest of their lives, having to live every day with images of crematoriums, skeletal human beings and countless other atrocities that were seared into their minds. Getting out of the camps alive by the end of the war is certainly the result of numerous factors, some of which are not even within our control. The story of Primo Levi and his account of surviving one of the most terrifying eras for the Jewish people in perhaps all of history reveals just what some of these factors were. From maintaining every shred of dignity/humanity left in the camps to using cunning and ingenuity to increase his chances of survival, Primo has prevailed against all odds. Having known that "man is required to pursue his own ends with all possible means, while he who makes a mistake once pays dearly" (1.3), tenacity and the desire to get out alive fueled the determination of a man trapped in a land of fleeting trusts and moldy scabs. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Perhaps the most important contribution to the explanation of how Primo survived when so many others around him did not imply maintaining what the Nazis sought to destroy inside the barbed wire of the camps: humanity. If there's anything Hitler's concentration camps did better than extinguish the lives of all those unfortunate enough to be imprisoned in one, it was rob the prisoners of their humanity. Primo became passionate about the inner workings and motivations of these fields quite early in his journey, realizing that “if we want to keep [our names], we will have to find within ourselves the strength to do so, to ensure that somehow behind the name still remains something of us, of us as we were" (2,21). Before it was too late, Primo began to cling to every shred of his past life, using skills and actions performed before his imprisonment that reminded him of his humanity. The prisoners began to trade and bargain with their portions of bread, something that somewhat resembled the structure of a makeshift economy in the camps. Bread became the currency of the earth to replace the paper/money obviously absent in that environment. One individual in particular, a former sergeant in the Austro-Hungarian army during World War I, was one of the first resources that helped Primo cling to his humanity. Steinlauf spoke words of supreme wisdom to Primo that he would remember so well that years later they would be included in his book. Steinlauf desperately wanted Primo to recognize that “[they] must shine [their] shoes, not because the rules require it, but for dignity and propriety” (3.41). The importance of maintaining a routine order different from that imposed by the Nazi guards was fundamental to maintaining calm in that hellish world. If someone could clean themselves, dry themselves in jackets, and even find time to shine their shoes, then the decline in sanity would slow dramatically. Although Primo is initially skeptical of this advice, wondering whether or not it would be better to simply recognize the futility of having personal rules, he is undoubtedlyone of the only reasons he escaped the war with a shred of his humanity left. intact. Another fateful action that Primo chose to take was to analyze and befriend selected prisoners during his stay in the camp. From reuniting with his childhood friend, Alberto, to taking over his territory in the Ka-Be medical center with Charles and Arthur in the final days that led to their freedom, Primo almost certainly would have died long ago if it weren't for the interactions he had with all the people he met along the way. He viewed anyone who was completely deprived of all those he loved as "an empty man, reduced to suffering and need, forgetful of dignity and control" (2.26), thus taking it upon himself to ensure that he was not stuck there without anyone to help him. to take care of. Despite losing Alberto to the Nazi death marches as the Russians approached Auschwitz, Primo came to think so highly of Charles and Arthur that he even went so far as to say he exchanged letters with Charles after their liberation, "[hoping] to see him again one day" (17.22). Through the combination of tactics and friendship that Primo developed as he adapted to life in the concentration camp, the Jewish chemist was able to prevent what little humanity he had left from being brutally stripped away from him by the dehumanizing Nazi regime. much of the knowledge that led to his triumphant survival within the walls of his compound, it would be ignorant to overlook the naturally admirable intelligence that Primo had before arriving at Auschwitz. In addition to being a formally recognized chemist in his life before the war, Primo was able to analytically observe his surroundings and those around him, which led him to discover how he could go about his day while expending the least amount of energy possible . . In one particular case, Primo recruited the help of a man named Resnyk to help him with a task that required heavy lifting of wooden beams weighing nearly 175 pounds each. Shortly after meeting his fellow prisoner, Primo wasted no time in mentally noting the benefits of associating with him, labeling him as a “good worker [whose] being taller would bear most of the burden” (6.10). Levi's natural ability to seek out talents and utilities that would come in handy should he need their help certainly played an important role in his survival in Auschwitz. Also returning to his specialty in the field of chemistry, Primo's choice to take the chemical exam proposed by the German officers looking for a chemical Kommando for the camp gave him an unparalleled advantage over the other prisoners. Although it took some time before the benefits of this action finally became apparent, Primo found himself receiving better clothes at a more frequent rate, a warm workspace, and even the privilege of getting a weekly shave once his job was secured ( which had only been earned by two other men). Using the strong mind given to him at birth to find ways to make his situation even slightly more bearable undoubtedly gave Primo Levi the resources he needed to hold on until the inevitable arrival of the Russians at Auschwitz. Remember: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay You can't help but sit and really think for a minute about how incredible it is that a concentration camp prisoner managed to escape with his life from Hitler's mortifying Europe. There were some valid reasons that might help better explain why,.