The extent to which humans can hold to life: Limitless?
The lack of any meaning of life is highlighted to an extreme extent in Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning; deprivation of health, a sexual relationship, family, and happiness sparks confusion as to why the majority of depressed captives chose to persevere and hold to life. But, not only are the essential aspects of purposeful living taken from victims. They are also brutally tortured, physically—most were forced to work under ruthless conditions with little protection from frostbite and hypothermia, and most were also beaten for random, petty reasons. Choosing to live with suppressed mental health emphasizes the strong, innate human will to cherish values; obstinately fastening oneself to that choice under pitiable living conditions demonstrates the strength of human spirit and the common magnitude of improbable hopes. The difference between death and an agonizing life is based on the existential perception of each helpless individual—some view life in the concentration camps are a choice between a quick death and a protracted, miserable life that eventually ends in death. Frankl does not criticize those who choose suicide; he praises and analyzes those who choose life over death.
In the viewpoint of some suicidal hostages, working for Nazis is tantamount to working against their opponents; not all who selected “the easy way out” weighed their decision on persisting under conditions that could not guarantee happiness in the end. In addition, personal predicaments could have suggested a higher chance of death: Those prone to work accidents and diseases based on disabilities or previous experience with weak immune systems might have considered options and weighed more toward the a quick death. But despite these conditions, the vast majorities choose to struggle to survive.
The power of the human spirit is fascinating, and through his experiences in the concentration camps, Frankl allows the deepest magnitude of insight of the depth to which a human could go to preserve his life. Frankl reviews how the prisoners manage to move on, day by passing day, drawing attention to surprising methods that provided for the only source of happiness, no matter how fleeting and temporary. Many supported their dubious hopes with a religious foundation. There were occasions where sparse gatherings would allow captives to sing buoyant songs and recite optimistic poems, kindling lighthearted, futuristic thoughts. Talk of politics, regardless of its uncertainty, helped the workers believe they had better chances at leaving the concentration camps alive as well. Frankl provides an anecdote where he would try to keep humor at the forefront of conversation while working, which, for the most part, would concern ideal and futuristic life. In effect, frequent humor would overlap and cover up melancholy feelings of nostalgia.
These prisoners, trapped against their will in abominable conditions of the concentration camps: Why did they choose to survive? Unrelenting hope. How did they survive? Upbeat futuristic distractions. The Nazi’s took their meaning of life; they gave themselves a purpose for living. Frankl lived to tell the story.
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