Eliezer's comparisons of himself and other prisoners to machines in the context of their evacuation from the concentration camp reveal the dehumanizing and traumatizing effect of the camp experience on the prisoners. This can be supported by the following two pieces of evidence from the text:
- 1. "We were the masters of nature, the masters of the world. We had transcended everything—death, fatigue, our natural needs." (Night, Chapter 6) Here, Eliezer describes how the prisoners, in their desperate and deteriorated state, have become detached from their own humanity. They have been reduced to mere survival machines, driven solely by the instinct to endure the harsh conditions of the camp. The comparison to being "masters of nature" suggests a loss of connection to their own human essence, emphasizing the dehumanizing effect of the camp experience.
- 2. "Our senses were numbed, everything was fading into a fog. We no longer clung to anything. The instincts of self-preservation, of self-defense, of pride, had all deserted us." (Night, Chapter 6) Eliezer's statement highlights the profound psychological impact of the camp experience. The prisoners' senses are numbed, their emotions dulled, and their individuality erased. They have become detached from their own identity and agency, existing in a state of detachment and resignation. By comparing their state to a fading fog and the abandonment of vital instincts, Eliezer underscores the dehumanizing effect of the concentration camp on the prisoners.
In summary, Eliezer's comparisons of himself and the prisoners to machines in the context of their evacuation demonstrate the dehumanizing impact of the concentration camp experience. The loss of humanity, detachment from emotions, and the erasure of individuality all reflect the profound trauma inflicted upon the prisoners, reducing them to mere survival mechanisms.
