While waiting in line for the selection, the new Blockalteste in charge gave some words of advice to the inmates telling them, ’”Don’t walk slowly...run like the devil was behind you...try to move your limbs”’ (71). Running would not only bring color to their limbs, but would physically show that they’re still capable of performing well and carrying out labor requiring tasks. This greatly improved the prisoner’s chances of surviving the selection. Elie did what his Blockalteste told him to do and ran like the devil was behind him, resulting in him surviving the