The best they could? I don't think so. He paused as if to edit his woes and select the most telling ones. Did you notice how they treated the officers? They slept in staterooms when we were jammed in the hold like pigs. It's to make them feel superior, a chosen group. That's the same device Hitler uses when he makes the Germans think they're superior. Roth felt as if he were on the edge of something profound.
In "The Naked and the Dead" by Norman Mailer, a character reflects on the unequal treatment between officers and soldiers during their journey. He expresses discontent at how officers enjoy comfortable staterooms, while the soldiers are cramped together in the hold, likening their situation to being treated like livestock. This disparity highlights the officers' sense of superiority, which resonates with the historical manipulation of power dynamics, such as those used by Hitler to foster a sense of superiority among Germans.
The character's observations lead him to a deeper realization about the nature of hierarchy and privilege. His frustration with the unfair treatment reveals a broader commentary on social stratification and the impact it has on morale and human dignity. The reflection serves as a critique of how power structures can dehumanize individuals, emphasizing the profound emotional and psychological effects of systemic inequality.
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All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.
Race of Cain, ascend to heaven, And cast God down upon the earth!
