How does Eliezer respond when his father is beaten for the first time? Ho does that response affect the way he sees himself? What does he fear is happening to him?

Auschwitz concentration camp

Auschwitz concentration camp

In section 3, Eliezer and his father are brought to a concentration camp located in Auschwitz. His father is beaten up by one of SS German officers for asking for permission to go to the toilets. In the last paragraph on page 39, he says, "I stood pertified" (39). The book continues to say he just stood there and didn't even blink. He was so scared that he just kept silent. If he saidhe would have dug his nails into the officer's flesh, then why didn't he? Because his instinct at that moment told him to protect himself; if he reacted, he might have been hurt, too, or even killed. His response makes him feel like he is just an useless and incompetent person who can't defend his father who is  beaten up by the German officer. He fears he is also becoming more of a coward. He feels guilty for not being able to do help his father - "Remorse began to gnaw at me" (39). However, at the same time, his anger towards the German officers grows more - "All I could think was: I shall never forgive them for this" (39). From this statement, we can sense that he will carry his anger for a long time.

Bibliography:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/library/imint/auschwitz.htm
http://www.samanthahowell.com/womeninlodz/?page_id=16