Frankl's stories were extremely moving. I am in awe of his mental fortitude and remarkable will power. I was looking at other blog posts and everybody is looking for connections between Frankl's article and King Lear or The Stranger. I think that we should step back and take in the beauty of some of the language and the power of Frankl's words.
The first line that really caught my attention was Frankl's quoting of Lessing, "There are thins which must cause you to lose your reason or you have none to lose." And Frankl's phrasing, "An abnormal reaction to an abnormal situation is normal behavior." Nothing was normal about the concentration camps. When Frankl talks about the stage of apathy I cringe. To lose all emotional response to any stimulation is heartbreaking.
Normal reactions are now completely opposite normal. One example of an abnormal reaction was when one of the inmates had to march with no boots and he found comfort with bread. He actually "munched with absorbed delight." This to me demonstrates the extreme will to survive. Not even being phased by things that would scar people nowadays forever takes great strength.
Not only were the inmates strong, but they all appreciated beauty. They acknowledged the power of love and the natural beauty of the earth. Frankl found that love is as strong as death and that love could keep you alive. One remedy to hopelessness was love. Another was the sunset. Seeing the sunset through the tall Bavarian trees resulted in more of an emotional response then did the death of a comrade.
Frankl's struggles showed me how strong people can be even when everything is lost.
How beautiful the world could be!
I like how this post highlights a positive message a reader could take from Frankl. Even in something that is on the surface a major bummer, it does reveal the strength of the human soul and the pleasure in small things like a bit of bread.
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