What most disturbed me about the attitude of the camps was the destruction of the prisoners’ humanity. They were treated like animals from the start: examined, their names replaced by a number, their distinctions shaved with their hair, made to work and live like enslaved beasts. They were forced to obey every order under penalty of death. Yes, death. Always death. The threat hung over their heads with each word muttered by an officer. If one was too weak – death. If one was too old – death. If one was too young – death. Yes, death. Always death. The murder of women and children and men young and old constantly surrounded young Wiesel, and he was forced to age beyond his years by the sting of mortality. Wiesel often comments on how the prisoners no longer desired anything but food. A simple ration was the only thing they could desire anymore. It is disturbing how they have been debased to creatures. They are enslaved to only their primal instincts to survive.
Some in the camp attempted to retain their humanity. Whether it was looking out for someone else or keeping faith traditions, those who kept their humanity held on to sanity. One such example of this was the man with the violin. He had been an accomplished musician before he had been taken, and in the old camp he had even played in the band that played to keep time for marches. But when everyone was evacuated from the camp, everything changed. His role didn’t matter anymore, and he was forced to abandon everything. Still, he took with him his violin. To him, his violin symbolized his humanity, his life – the only vital thing left for him. So he kept it with him even as the entire population of the camp was moved. Finally, when they arrived at the next camp, he was left with nothing else: his strength was gone, he had no food. He lived only for that violin. And in that place of death and failure, the man played the violin – a beacon of hope and humanity in a dark, dark place. He died the next morning, clinging to the instrument that had kept him human during his life.
That was a very insightful look at the boy with the violin. I agree that it symbolized his humanity, though I hadn't thought of it before. I think that the battering of his violin coupled with his death showed that he would rather retain his humanity and die than release it.
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