A tall, grey-haired woman who has just arrived on the “transport” whispers, “My poor boy,” to our narrator. What does she mean?
The woman understands the harsh reality the narrator must go through, even though his situation is far off better than hers. The woman acknowledges the dehumanization of being forced to unload the prisoners and send them to gas chambers and then scrape off the corpses off the train. She leaves the context of war and sees him as just a young boy instead.
“Are we good people?” asks our narrator. What is this exchange about? What do you think?
The narrator is conflicted. He knows he has no choice but to proceed with what the Nazis has ordered him to do. He is aware that the situation is out of his control. However, the guilty conscience still creeps upon him. He cannot deny the fact that he got blood on his hands just like the Nazis. Though he has expressed that he does not feel bad for the Jews at all, he eventually starts to question his morality. In my opinion, a person should not be held against things they have done while their personal wills and freedom are at stakes.
Explain the significance of the story’s title, “This Way to the Gas, Ladies and Gentlemen.” What seems strange about it?
The title plays with irony to convey how automatic the procedure of unloading the prisoners and sending them off to death is. It is strange because one would assume there will be at least some type of resistance from the prisoners if they know they are on their ways to die. However, all the narrator sees is conformity.
Ryan – Thanks for these responses. I appreciate your describing the narrator as “conflicted.” I think that is an important element of his perspective.