Subjective experience
The book discusses the subjective quality of one's point of view, both in the present psychology of a person and in their experience of memory. Even memory portrays reality through the lens of subjective experience. The subjectivity is relevant to Levi's purposes because through a complex discussion of Nazi concentration camps, the various risks and concerns of subjectivity are explored. The Nazis were experiencing one kind of reality, and the prisoners were experiencing the absolute opposite.
History and memory
Not only is personal memory examined by Levi, but also the history of the world is introduced as a kind of evidence for the human psychology in general. In other words, the events of history are offered as an imagery depiction of the potential of human psychology. This is literally true, if one believes that humans are essentially biologically similar, but Levi's decision to strictly argue that history is an imagery of psychology and consciousness helps the reader to frame history in a more helpful, analytical light.
Concentration camp imagery
The imagery of Nazi Germany is used in the book as a portrait of extremes. The Jews are up against extreme fates, clearly, but also the Nazi guards are also demonstrating emotional extremes. The guards offer the other half of concentration camp imagery, because their sense of absolute power and supremacy is a kind of psychology that is often overlooked in discussions of Nazi Germany. In other words, it is easy to forget that the Nazis are also human, and their psychological experience of reality is still part of that imagery. Levi's discussion shows that the camps show both extremes.
Violence and terror
The unquestionable violence and terror of Nazi concentration camps is offered as an imagery central to Levi's thematic observations. The violence among prisoners is also explored to show that scarcity can drive humans against one another, and combined, the two potentials from violence from prisoner and guard alike, they combine to give the reader a sense of dread and paranoia. This shows that abuse was used like terrorism in the camp. The reader can learn from this imagery that extreme cases of paranoia will lead to the most dangerous kinds of psychologies.
