e main idea of existentialism is creating your own self.Another example of an existentialist decision occurs in the concentration camp of Buna, when a young boy is to be hanged with two adults. Many of the Oberkapos had little boys that they liked and had hang around for sexual purposes. Someone at the camp was suspected of blowing up the electric station, and eventually they found it to be the Dutch Oberkapo, and he was arrested. This Oberkapo had a little boy (not his son), and he would not say whether or not the man had done it, so they decided to hang him. Many of the men are thoroughly disturbed by the fact that the boy being hanged was so young. Many of the young boys grew meaner than some adults, but “the Dutchman’s little servant was loved by all. He had the face of a sad angel” (60). The Lagerkapo who is supposed to do the hanging refuses, and SS officers have to step in and perform the execution. This Lagerkapo shows an existentialist decision because he takes control of his own life. He does not want his life to include the hanging of a small boy. Remember, according to Sartre, a man’s life includes all his decisions and actions. This man has undoubtedly performed other executions, but refuses this one. He doesn’t want the responsibility of this death to weigh on his conscience, so he refuses to do it. He was most likely reprimanded for his actions, but he is accepting the punishment. He chooses to accept the punishment over the guilt of hanging a little boy.Another important existentialistic choice is when Wiesel and his father decide not to stay in the camp, but rather to leave with the rest of the men. Wiesel is in the hospital after having surgery on his foot, and he hears of the evacuation of the camp. He rushes out to find his father immediately. The people in the hospital were meant to stay there. Wiesel knows he can get his father into the hospital either as a patient or...
