The Reading Club event organized by the Vicdan Foundation Culture and Arts Commission was held this month for Primo Levi's book "Are They Human Too?" We discussed the reading adventure with our volunteers and guests who read the book for a month.
After escaping from the Auschwitz Camp, Primo Levi conveyed the horror and cruelty there in his book; he wanted to tell the world about the Nazi Concentration Camps, where the most horrific form of the oppressor-oppressed relationship of being human was experienced, as he experienced it himself. He also told how a person can lose his humanity, how he can make those he considers “others” experience hell, and despite this, his conscience and resistance.
Our participants agreed that they were very impressed by this work, that the dimensions of the evil experienced were shocking, but that hope would never die under any circumstances with the emergence of human conscience. Primo Levi's experience of living on the borders of human evil, and the state of being able to remain human that he found in the character of Lorenzo, whom he encountered there and said was the reason for his survival, who did not expect anything in return and only did good for the sake of good, were very impressive to all of us.
It was also discussed that the power of literature is why a book written in 1947 still affects its readers so deeply after more than half a century has passed, and how evil and good become so tangible in those lines. It was also discussed how important it is for people like Primo Levi to leave a mark on history with their courage and sense of responsibility towards society, as witnesses to their era.
Together, we once again understood from Primo Levi's words that conscience can help open the door to every beautiful thing we need.
Perhaps this is why the activities of our Reading Club are so important; the healing power of literature, which first allows us to feel the truth with our flesh and bones, will be with us on the journey of conscience.
We would like to thank everyone who participated and invite everyone to the world of books in order to multiply together in our next event. See you at the November event.
Comments