Camila Robles Senz VB

23/5/2012 Health

#20

False belief
Delusion ruled the ghetto, thats what Elie said. Obviously he is not speaking in a literal way because Germans did have the power at the ghetto, they were in charge of following the rules that the Nazis gave and obligated to make sure that Jews were obeying them. Delusion means a false belief that another person, group of people, or external force controls ones general thoughts, feeling. Or behavior. But all of this wasnt happening at the very start. No one truly knew the purpose of what was going on. Jews did not have a clue about what was coming next. They didnt even know why Germans were at the ghetto They never demanded the impossible, made no offensive remarks, and even smiled at the lady of the house. (pag.10) Elie describes a German officer as a charming man. This officer even brought Mrs. Kahn a box of chocolates. He also asks himself Where is their famous cruelty?(pag.10) because Germans were already in power but they were polite to Jews. People at Sighet were still smiling because nobody was making them suffer at all. During the eight days of Passover Jews celebrated as the Bible commanded. But this time they wished this holiday ended fast so they could stop pretending rejoice during this eight days. After this The race toward death had begun. (pag.10) the same day the Hungarian police got to the ghetto. This time they demanded some decrees under penalty of death if they didnt follow them. Jews were forbidden to own any valuable object and to wear a yellow star. Later on two ghettos were created at Sighet. Even though they were encircled by barbed wire they didnt felt fear, In fact, we felt this was not a bad thing(pag. 11), because they lived among Jews. Elie also says that the atmosphere was oddly peaceful and reassuring (pag. 12), while it was not that way. People inside the ghetto was acting differently, their behavior was not real. Jews didnt even talked about how they were feeling about what

was going on because actually they didnt even know. Their aptitude towards everything was null. There was a false belief of safety to all Jews because Most people thought that we would remain in the ghetto until the end of war(pag. 12) as Elie says. Everybody was trying to have a normal life. This is why delusion takes place at the ghetto and Elie tries to explain that The ghetto was ruled by neither German nor Jew; it was ruled by delusion. (pag.12) because everybody was been lied to. Nobody knew what was really happening around. They never had the chance to even prepare to the worse to come.