7822cw+Whole+by+Whole+Essay

NOTE

 When you think of rules, the first few things that come into your mind are probably rules like //don't run in the hallway// or //don't chew gum in class//, right? Sometimes it's hard to follow rules, and that is exactly how Chaya feels in //The Devil's Arithmetic.// But the rules she is expected follow could mean the difference between life and death. Whether it's the Camp Rules or Rivka's Rules, they can both help you. They are similar because they will both help you stay alive, for now, and they will help you maintain order and boundaries. Both are useful, but are used in a lot of different ways!

 The Camp Rules are dictated by the three fingered woman, the tattooist, the officer, and Rivka. If you don't obey these rules you will die, in fact, that is one of the rules which the three fingered woman shares: do or die. It's harsh, but it does help you. In school, when you are in the play, you probably want all the attention to yourself. Well in this camp, you never call attention to yourself, says the officer! Also you never say no, says Rivka. That is one of the most important rules, in my opinion. The intention of the Camp Rules is to make you suffer and weaken your resolve. They want you to be their slaves. Rivka wanted to help you keep your idetnity, but the camp wants to deprive you of it. If you don't remember anything then you can't object to what's wrong.

**CHLOE: I didn't finish commenting yet; long story. Will finish later! ~Mr. Schoch**

 Rivka is trying to help you stay alive. Play the man's game would be a good rule so you won't be killed! She also mentions don't ask why, which could really help you avoid getting slapped by the three fingered women. Your tattooed arm has a number on it and one of Rivka's Rules is to read a number as you would a name. When your in a concentration camp, you know there are many ways to die, but Rivka has rules to help you. Her intentions are to help you persevere and to stay alive! She also wants you to keep your identity, because it can be deprived from you in a second. It doesn't matter whether you wrote something on your dress/shirt, you will become a number and nothing more. Rivka says, " If you follow these rules, you will last and not become a musselmen."

 Rules can be good and bad, it depends who's giving them. There are rules that could save you life, and there are rules that are boring and annoying. Every rule has meaning, and that's what Chaya is trying to prove in //The Devil's Arithmetic.// Camp Rules have to do with depriving you of things. Rivka's Rules are trying to help you stay alive. Every rule if different, but if you follow them they will end up helping you. The Camp wanted to help you because they needed workers, and Rivka wanted to help you because she wants you to stay alive. I think that rules can be a good thing and a bad thing.