Once incarcerated, Otto wants to keep busy and do as he’s ordered while Kurt wants to fight the system. Do you feel age plays a role or are their actions more related to their personalities? What would you have done in their place?

[Kathy_Downey]

I think is age is definitely a factor in this situation. Younger people are more idealistic and seem to want to change the world. With age, comes life experiences which likely affect decisions and further thought of consequences.

[Laura_Genco]

I definitely see age as a factor of how the men spent their time. Kurt was young and idealistic. He wanted to make a change. Otto merely wanted to do what was expected of him. He did not wish to make himself stand out.

[Mary_H]

I think age was definitely a factor. Otto could see that this was a system a prisoner could not fight successfully and trying to do so would only make things worse. Kurt, on the other hand, with the optimism of youth, felt that resistance would somehow be successful and help their cause. In this situation, I would agree with Otto’s position.