Arendt

What happens to human beings in concentration camps?

Hannah Arendt writes strongly with much compassion on the issue of totalitarianism. It’s obvious when reading the passage that she feels strongly about her views against totalitarianism. Arendt gives examples of the affects of totalitarian government. It led to the idea and formation of concentration camps or as some may try to soften the sound of it, by referring to it as forced-labor groups.

Here in these concentration camps people are reduced to the equivalency of animals. They are not recognized as human anymore, nor do they receive the same rights or respect as even the lowest class of people. Life as they know it is ripped away and they are either murdered or work under the supervision within the camps doing various tasks. These people had no contact with the outside world. Physicians experimented on them after they were killed, and sometimes while they were still alive. Arendt referred to these camps as hell and described the levels in which these camps were thought of by those in the camps. “Concentration camps can very aptly be divided into three types corresponding to three basic Western Conceptions of a life after death: Hades, Purgatory, and Hell (Arendt 96).” Hell is where she explains that “Hell in the most literal sense was embodied by those types of camp perfected by the Nazis, in which the whole of life was thoroughly and systematically organized with a view to the greatest possible torment (Arendt 96).” These people were forced into these camps and tortured. I could only imagine the thought of actually being that person.

As you can see, totalitarian government rules by fear and seeks complete devotion from it’s followers. Arendt stresses the importance of knowing the ill effects of letting government rule entirely. People can suffer not just hardships with money or their occupation. People can end up suffering in the complete sense of the word. Losing your life to a government that has complete power of its citizens is disturbing and quite frankly disgusting.

Arendt, Hannah. “Total Domination.” A World of Ideas: Essential Readings for College Writers. Ed. Lee A. Jacobus. 7^th ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martins, 2006. pp85-97.