Question

In the last chapter, "The Story of Ten Days," Levi writes, " The law of the Lager said 'eat your

own bread, and if you can, that of your neighbor', and left no room for gratitude." How did the
patients in Levi's room while in the infirmary defy this law?

Answer 1

In Primo Levi's narrative, the patients in the infirmary defy the self-centered 'law of the Lager' by sharing and showing care for each other, maintaining their humanity in inhumane conditions.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the last chapter, "The Story of Ten Days," from Primo Levi's work, the patients in the infirmary defy the law of the Lager which advocates for selfishness and survival at the expense of others. Levi writes about a time in a concentration camp where the prevailing rule was to eat your own bread, and if possible, that of your neighbor's, implying an every-man-for-himself mentality that left no space for gratitude or communal support.

However, the patients in Levi's room show defiance to this law by engaging in acts of sharing and caring for each other despite their own dire needs, suggesting a kernel of humanity preserved against the inhumanity of their surroundings.