Human beings are actually rubber bands when you think about it deeply. Both are extremely resilient under stress and can reach their highest peaks after being stretched to their maximum limits. However, there is one thing that distinguishes humanity from rubber bands, and from everything else: dignity. Laura Hillenbrand's Unbroken beautifully tells the story of protagonist Louis Silvie Zamperini and the hardships he is subjected to while spending time in Japan as a prisoner of war during World War II. Although he suffers the same dehumanizing treatments that many have died from, Louie never loses his self-esteem and maintains his proud stance in the face of his torturers. The dignity that Louie defends prevents him from succumbing to death. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayThe first thing many people do when they find themselves in trouble is to give up, so it would have made sense if Louie broke down while struggling to live in the terrible conditions of the prison camp he was transferred to. In contrast, Louie somehow maintains his dignity, which revives his incentive to fight back. While Louie was stuck in the POW camp, the guards constantly attacked him mentally and physically, determined to strip away his pride. In retaliation, Louie and the other POWs decided to sabotage everything they could and steal while doing their job. “In risking their lives to sabotage the enemy, men were no longer passive prisoners. They were soldiers again. (page 248-249). These small acts of defiance helped men emerge from their black hole and reclaim their dignity again. Furthermore, there were other ways in which men fought against their captors. “And in a place devoted to degradation, stealing from the enemy has regained the dignity of men”. (page 250). Men managed to continue living by achieving small victories against the enemy by robbing them. While residing in another prison camp, Louie and a group of other prisoners managed to maintain their dignity by keeping small diaries and writing notes. “Although the prisoners' resistance was dangerous, through such acts dignity was preserved.” (p. 212). These otherwise minuscule acts of rebellion helped the men maintain their dignity, and thus inspired them to continue fighting back. The idea of ​​maintaining one's identity was pervasive throughout the entire novel. The dignity that many men in prison camps fought to maintain was the only thing that anchored them. “Without dignity, identity is erased. In its absence, men are defined not by themselves, but by their captors and the circumstances in which they are forced to live." (page 189). Louie, even though he was in the hands of the enemy, refused to let others define who he was and wanted to prove his worth to both his captors and himself. While he and Phil were stranded on Kwajalein Island, Louie noticed nine names of Marines who had died. Struck by the desire to preserve himself, he engraved his name next to the other nine. “Louie often stared at the names of Marines, wondering who they were, if they had wives and children… In tall block letters, he carved his name on the wall next to theirs.” (page 187). While it doesn't seem like much, Louie makes a statement just by performing this simple action. By thinking these thoughts and carving his name on the wall, he shows that he still has self-worth despite being a prisoner. Normally, Louie, his companions and companions should not have been able to survive the horrible conditions they were placed in. However, the dignity that.