Year 11 English A1

Aby Emmet Shaw

Aby Shaw

English World Literature

IB year 12

A comparison between social responses to adversity as portrayed in If This A Man by Primo Levi and Black Rain by Masuji Ibuse.

Word count: 1481

Draft: Revision 1

16 April 2012

Year 11 English A1

Aby Emmet Shaw

An analysis of differing representations of the social perspective that is dependant on the cultural paradigms of the representing individual defines the knowledge gained from a comparison of two culturally independent works. Two topically related works exploring similar themes with differing cultural contexts provide an understanding of their respective cultural paradigms. If This Is A Man by Primo Levi and Black Rain by Masuji Ibuse both explore great horrors in history and how social turmoil and survival in the face of destruction has affected society. If This Is A Man follows Haftling 174517 through the camps of Auschwitz fighting for his survival against the camps dehumanising force. Black Rain centres on the social response to the bombing of Hiroshima shown from the perspective of Shigematsu as he aids in rebuilding society. Despite the differing setting and cultural background, dehumanisation and societal deterioration are at the forefront of both novels allowing for an analysis of the established communities and social behaviours. To recognize each novels cultural perspective this text will compare representation of social behaviours in the face of hardship and the protagonists change in state of mind in settings where their dignity and humanity are tested.

The protagonists of both novels share a grim setting where they are pit against dehumanising forces, however it is their characterization and mental development that form a basis for their actions. The day the bombing of Hiroshima occurred Shigematsu undergoes a change from his normal life. In a split second a burst of chaos and social turmoil turn Hiroshima into a nuclear holocaust. Through Shigematsus eyes the reader sees the panic unfold as the streets are upheaved by the power of the bomb and citizens form a fearful riot. However, this is not Shigematsus response. He gathers himself, not overcome by emotions of anger and grief and rather searches for answers to what has happened and why. It is this contrast to the expected panic that shows the dignity and strength of his character. This point of view, of a restrained search for understanding, can be contrasted to the protagonist of If This Is A Man, Halftling 174517. Horrified by the deliberate destruction of man he struggles to keep his identity. The minute he enters the camp the protagonist is stripped of his name and is issued the new name of Haftling 174517. He is shaved and is given a uniform thereby becoming one of the many. The initial destruction of identity is ushered by the removal of characteristics that define the individual. Seeing the dehumanisation of the prisoners the protagonist comments To destroy a man is 2

Year 11 English A1

Aby Emmet Shaw

difficult but you Germans have succeeded from us you have nothing more to fear; no acts of violence, no words of defiance, not even a judgemental look. 1 This quote demonstrates the protagonists outlook on his setting and the tragic success of the Lager. However, it is the protagonists quantification and commentary on this paradigm that sets him apart; he is able to define himself, not in the eyes of the Germans, but rather as a man capable of thought and reason. In both novels it is the protagonists ability to try and make sense of their surroundings and their need to retain some link to the outside world that sets them apart and saves them from the fate of many around them. In Black Rain Shigemitsu also rises to his responsibilities with an intrinsic compassion for life that shines through the horrors that surround him. He devotes all his energy into protecting niece and helping citizens he can. Even after the bombs effect had passed, when life seemed to have settled back to the norm, that same caring is seen as he takes it upon himself to help his niece marry. I do not care what the villagers think or what the rumours say I am helping Yasuko to marry 2 This quote shows Shigematsus sense of duty undeterred by societal scrutiny. When compared to Black Rain Shigematsus sense of duty and fight for justness is not

seen in Haftling 174517. In the beginning his notions of right were the foundation of his horror at the Lager, it was soon clear that they are but fabrications of civilised society and are abandoned when men are treated as animals. Haftling 174517 instead embodies a stand for humanity not by fighting for justness and happiness but by surviving and making sense of a world designed to silence and numb a person down into a beast.

How the novels present social behaviours in a testing world struck by catastrophe gives a more rounded perspective on the culture and society. By analysing the characters social behaviours the author provide insight into the themes or messages explored in the novel. In Black Rain Shigematsus journey from the bombsite leads him to Mrs Takahashi, a local schoolteacher he was acquainted with. While together they comfort each other going about the ravaged city face. As they rest Shigematsu inspects his injury with confusion; I ran my hand over my face. The left hand came away wet and sticky [it] had something bluish- purple like little shreds of damp paper on it. I stroked it again and again and again Mrs Takahashi grasped by wrist. No you mustnt rub it. Leave it alone until you can put something

Year 11 English A1

Aby Emmet Shaw

on it. If you play with it, the germs will get in from your hand. 3 This writing style gives a cool surgical tone with no embellishment or exaggeration merely conveying the horror of the event, as well as conveying to the reader Mrs Takahashis compassion. This is a representation of a cultural paradigm where women are caretakers in Japanese society, however in If This Is A Man there is no room for this sort of compassion as there is hardly any room for identity. The Lager works to dehumanise its inhabitants, the constant work load and the fact that there is always more the next day is designed to deter any reasoning; working to the point where their limbs are numb, the prisoners hardly have any energy to devote to their hatred or salvation. In the face of driving necessity and physical disability many social habits and instincts are reduced to silence 4 creating a new social paradigm in the Lager, one where each man is a hollow husk working until he dies. The void of any social acceptance or admiration means any action is an achievement and rebellion. The man who is to die in front of us today in some way took part in a revolt and perhaps the Germans do not understand that this solitary death will bring him glory, not infamy our cursed resignation took body by itself, as if it turned into a collective voice above our heads. But everybody heard the cry of the doomed man, it pierced through the old thick barriers of inertia and submissiveness, it struck the living core of man in each of us: Kamaraden, ich bin der Letz! (Comrades, I am the last one!) I wish I could say that from the midst of us a voice rose But nothing happened. We remained standing, bent and grey 5 This quote not only tells of the bent and grey men of the Lager and its entrenched social paradigm where there are only the masses working in complete submission, but also of the Last One, a symbol for man, whose words struck the living core of the prisoners. That very paradox; the world of silenced men, moulded for their death but having their souls struck by the words of one of their fellow condemned, shows that a moral core exists in every man, as much as it is suppressed it still holds root. At first this quote seems one purely denouncing men and their weak resolve however a focus on the prisoners morality reveals a positive aspect juxtaposing s perspective on humanity to the one first expected. Human behaviour is a method of conveying meaning even without outward expression there can still be meaning intrinsic to the moral core of a man, and this gives value to the prisoners inward gesture.

Year 11 English A1

Aby Emmet Shaw

Black Rain and If This Is A Man focus on how men cope with adversity, how their social and cultural perspectives change and morph to survive. It is how men keep their connection to a fundamental level of deep-rooted humanity that determines whether they are men. Shigemitsu and Haftling 174517 are protagonists that have fought through their adversity and in reading of their actions and ideas, their sincerity to humanity reminds readers of its intrinsic importance. These novels are commentaries on a cultural perspective in their own right and in their comparison the reader gains new knowledge which was previously unseen. Does world literature succeeded in asking readers to challenge their own paradigms by showing a new perspective formed in different culture? Maybe that is why we still read.

Year 11 English A1

Aby Emmet Shaw

Footnotes:
1

Primo Levi, 1979, If This Is A Man, p 156 Masuji Ibise, 1969, Black Rain, p 85 3 Masuji Ibise, 1969, Black Rain, p 45-46 4 Primo Levi, 1979, If This is a Man, p 87 5 Primo Levi, 1979, If This Is A Man, p 155
2

References:
Ibuse M, Black Rain, Kodansha America, Tokyo, 1979, p 45-46, 85. Levi P, If This Is A Man, Abacus, London, 1969, p 87,156, 157.