One of the most horrifying episodes in human history was the Holocaust, which took place during World War II and involved the systematic torture and death of millions of people. However, it is more than just a historical occurrence, it serves as a clear warning about the capacity for evil that resides inside everyone. Human nature, both good and bad, is laid bare in the crimes done during the Holocaust. The Holocaust is a blot of human civilization that tells us much about our nature, including our capacity for cruelty, indifference, and survival. The involvement of common people in the Holocaust's atrocities is one of its most disturbing aspects. The ability of ordinary people to support and take part in heinous acts was demonstrated by the Nazi regime's ability to recruit them as enforcers and executioners. In the book Night, Elie Wiesel explains, "The yellow star? So what? It's not lethal..." In this instance, we can observe the normalizing of cruelty, the desensitization to other people's suffering, and the complete dehumanization of the victims. This demonstrates both the persuasiveness of propaganda and the brittleness of morality in general. …show more content…
In Night, for example, despite being subjected to some of the most heinous crimes, the prisoners still find ways to care for one another and retain their dignity. "I had not seen myself since the ghetto. From the depths of the mirror, a corpse was contemplating me. The look in his eyes as he gazed at me has never left me." In this quote, we see the struggle to maintain a sense of self under extreme circumstances, and the deep emotional scars that remain even after liberation. The will to survive is a testament to the resilience and strength of the human