Escape From Camp 14 - Reflection
Today we had our first literature circle regarding the novel Escape From Camp 14 by Blaine Harden. I have read this book almost ten times over the past three years of owning it, so I came very prepared for this discussion. What really struck me however, was how Brandon and William had their very own perspective for Shin’s story. Now William believed we have two perspectives, one being Shin Dong-hyuk himself and Blaine Harden. With these two individuals we see how North Korean culture is completely normal to Shin while Harden sees them as atrocious acts against humanity, not to mention the isolation factor altering Shin’s view of morality after witnessing all these executions occur in his life.
Brandon brought up the point of how we can relate this back to philosophy and Darwin’s theory. Survival of the fittest plays an important aspect in this man’s odyssey, Shin views his mother as a means for food, not caring whether or not she has eaten or not but rather giving himself all the food as it is very scarce in the camp. I then brought up how later on he rats out his mother and brother for plotting to escape, now when I first read the book. I was shocked that he would commit such a crime against his family, it was only after two years where we started learning about different philosophers and how they view the world with its laws. Shin had a obligation to rat out his mother and brother otherwise he would be executed for not alerting the guards beforehand.
We also discussed the heinous acts of torture being committed against these prisoners, forced abortions, complete isolation, mutilation, you name it. We also created a spectrum on how the North Korean Government overrules the guards who overrule the prisoners. Quite the hierarchy if you ask me.
I look forward to hearing what Brandon and William have to say for our next literature circle, both seem to be enjoying the book very much, and I hope they have more ideas to share.
