Language:
English
Year of publication:
1999
Titel der Quelle:
Journal of Holocaust Education
Angaben zur Quelle:
8,2 (1999) 85-98
Keywords:
Schlink, Bernhard.
;
Levi, Primo,
;
Semprún, Jorge
;
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945), in literature
Abstract:
Discusses the problem of empathy or moral identification when reading works about the Holocaust, analyzing Primo Levi's "If This Is a Man", Jorge Semprun's "The Cattle Truck", and Bernhard Schlink's "The Reader". Admits that empathy can restrict the level of understanding to that of the individual (e.g. Anne Frank) and that it can be immoral if it leads to justification of Nazi behavior. Skepticism, or a rational cognitive approach, is seen as a corrective to the emotionalism of empathy. However, empathy is recommended to prevent the reduction of a suffering individual to a mere example. Concludes, therefore, that a synthesis of "pity and rigor" is required.
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