How does Eliezer react to his father being struck? Why does his reaction surprise him?

When Eliezer's father is beaten with an iron bar for working too slow, Eliezer feels anger directed at his father only, for not knowing how to avoid the abuse. Eliezer does not even feel any pity or compassion: "I kept quiet. In fact I was thinking of how to get farther away so that I would not be hit myself. What is more, any anger I felt at that moment was directed, not against the Kapo, but against my father. I was angry with him, for not knowing how to avoid Idek's outbreak." Along with the other prisoners, Eliezer is becoming concerned only with his own survival. In trying to remain alive, the prisoners cease to care about others and want only to eat and avoid being beaten.