Over 70 years ago, one of the most appalling occurrences in history arose, the holocaust. The holocaust was the mass murdering of many Jews, gypsies, Slavs, and dissenters during World War II. In elaboration, the genocide was implemented by former German dictator Adolf Hitler, who devised a plan in order to create a superior race and boost nationalism in his country. While his intentions seemed to have been a potential solution to revitalize the German nation, they emerged an infamy instead, resulting in the deaths of approximately six million Jews. Through his memoir, Night, Elie Wiesel depicts the horrors of the holocaust. Youthful, innocent, weak, and dead are four characteristics which seem so drastic in difference, but may not be known …show more content…
The author continues to display multiple symbolism, however the interpretation behind his words grow more explicit. Moreover, he discovers himself entangled in situations from being separated from his family to sacrificing his personal belongings. In the midst of adjusting to the harsh circumstances of the concentration camp, Wiesel states, “The three "veteran" prisoners, needles in hand, tattooed numbers on our left arms. I became A-7713. From then on, I had no other name.” (42) The phrase ‘A-7713’ symbolizes Wiesel’s loss of personal identity is demonstrated continuously where he mentions, “One day, when we had just returned from the warehouse, I was summoned by the block secretary: "A-7713?" "That's me." (57) Moreover, he is never referred to as Elie again by anyone except for his father and other acquaintances, ensuring that he has become submissive towards the soldiers of the camp. Accordingly, the symbolism and perception behind Wiesel’s number is significant to his change in persona, as he develops …show more content…
One of the most important elements in this drastic point of time for Eli is silence. In general, silence symbolizes Eli’s fear and inability to respond, which allows it to determine his actions in his prospective. For example, Wiesel wrote, “One day when Idek was venting his fury, I happened to cross his path. He threw himself on me like a wild beast, beating me in the chest, on my head, throwing me to the ground and picking me up again, crushing me with ever more violent blows, until I was covered in blood. As I bit my lips in order not to howl with pain, he must have mistaken my silence for defiance and so he continued to hit me harder and harder.” In essence, while Eli experiences his first barbaric ‘punishment’, he is unable to speak, resulting in silence and allowing his character’s persona to become conscious and frightened for his own survival. Silence rises fear, which expands the need to become selfish. Furthermore, becoming selfish results in Wiesel sacrificing his father, the most important figure in his life. The significance of silence in Eli’s persona is further justified when he mentions, "Father," I said, "just another moment. Soon, we'll be able to lie down. You'll be able to rest...” He didn't answer. I
The idea behind the ending statement of the novel is formed by Elie’s life from the nights before entering the camp to his escape. Wiesel is indicating that he is no longer whole as he has lost his faith in God, family and humanity
Throughout the memoir Night there many instances where many of the people in the concentration camps were treated inhumanly, cruel, or degrading or were subjected to torture. When Eli finds Idek and a young Polish girl together together intimately, he starts to laugh and this angers Idek to where he promises to get him back for not minding his business (Wiesel 57). Later on in the same page of the book, Wiesel goes on to say that “They brought a crate” (Wiesel 57) and he was then forced to lie down on the crate while he felt “the lashes of the whip”(Wiesel 57). This is incontrovertible a violation of article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which states that No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman
In the memoir Night by Elie Wiesel a message was, not listening to warnings and not taking action will inevitably bring you a life of sufferings. Before the German soldiers arrived in Sighet, Moishe the Beadle had been sent to a camp however, he escaped. Coming back to Elie’s town he yelled through the streets, “ Jews, listen to me! That’s all I ask of you. No money.
The book Night by Elie Wiesel, offers a depressing tone and reminds us that silence is destructive. The reader confronts this, desolation from Elie when he talks about becoming the son of the Rabbi. Elie promised himself that he would always be there for his father even during this horrendous time. As time progress, he inevitable breaks his promise and says nothing when the guards beat his delirious father on his deathbed. Sorrow is witnessed multiple times throughout the book, the pipel being hanged from the gallows and the inmates cry on the final train.
Throughout history there have been many instances of cruelty towards our brothers and sisters in race. Some of theses hatreds have turned deadly, and there has been much bloodshed. One of the most lethal occurrences is that of the Nazi party towards the Jewish people of conquered Europe. In the book Night the account of Elie Wiesel is told. Elie is a young Hungarian jew, when Hungary enters into WWII.
Towards the end of Elie Wiesel’s memoir he begins to describe how weak he has become and how weaker is going to be since he has decided to give his rations of bread and soup to not only his father but to the other people around the camp as well. “I knew that I would be strong enough to fight off dozens of violent men!” (Night, 101). Throughout the book Elie tends to describe the appearance of others rather than his own.
"Night" by Elie Wiesel is about a boy named Elie and his experiences during the Holocaust. Elie and his father were separated from his mother and sisters and taken to Auschwitz, the most deadly concentration camp in World War Two. After a long fight for survival at Auschwitz Elie and his father were moved to another concentration camp where Elie’s father dies from abuse. Shortly after Elie is rescued by the American army. In Night, Elie demonstrates that Humanity has a responsibility to stop inhuman cruelty through his experiences of being tortured and taken away from his home and family.
As conditions worsened, Wiesel became more resourceful and learned how to navigate the concentration camp system. In the text, it states, “‘A-7713!’ I stepped forward. ‘A crate!’ he ordered.
Wiesel brings out syntax for the ending of his speech but also incorporates pathos wrapping it all back together with the sadness and pity on all of us for the harmful silence done to the jews in the holocaust. Syntax was the most obvious rhetorical device used because you can physically see how it is being presented differently than the rest but also sending a message and not being so formal about it. Pathos was a very huge part to Wiesel’s whole entire speech as he was constantly trying to turn everyones thoughts and perspectives to what he was exactly seeing in his own eyes. Elie Wiesel wanted to show the world the horrible act of indifference and how it has personally affected him as a child and for his whole life growing up. Wiesel manages to create many viewpoints and to throw us in his shoes for us to understand the inhumanity of the ones had no sympathy towards the jews during the holocaust.
One reoccurring theme that is present in the Holocaust is a change of identity with everyone involved. The incidents people confronted, especially the Jews, during this harsh time was life changing and traumatic. The identity of many in the concentration camps changed; young and innocent children developed into mature men. Elie Wiesel in the novella, Night, faces a change of identity within himself and the surrounding people, the Jews, through a variety of events that he encounters.
Wiesel changes vastly throughout the book, whether it is his faith in God, his faith in living, or even the way his mind works. In the beginning of his memoir, Wiesel appeared to be faithful to God and the Jewish religion, but during his time in concentration camps, his faith in God wavered tremendously. Before his life was corrupted, he would praise God even when he was being transferred to Auschwitz, but after living in concentration camps, he began to feel rebellious against his own religion. In the book, Elie
After the war he had become scarred forever. Wiesel then states, “Never shall I forget those moments that murdered my God and my soul and turned my dreams to ashes”(Wiesel 37). This scarring statement by Elie explains how he had
As he became separated from his family, as he starved, and as he witnessed death, his belief and trust faded to the point where he was devoid of religion. By the end of the book, the reader can infer that Wiesel is a dynamic character based on his actions and beliefs. Throughout the novel, Elie’s actions began to change
At the time of Hitler's reign six million Jews died and even more suffered, yet the world remained silent. Six million lives could have been saved by simply speaking out against these tormentors. Eli feels strong about this subject and says, "Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor never the tormented"(Wiesel Acceptance Speech, pg 1). This helps the reader realize if society doesn't speak it takes the side of the tormentor.
Elie Wiesel’s Night, shows how hard it was to live and be a Jew during the time of the holocaust due to all the deaths, camps, and losses. Elie’s book shows readers what kind of events and actions were the cause of death of some prisoners and the thing that caused the survival of others. Throughout the book, many prisoners ended up giving up the hope to continue living, while others were able to find enough hope and love in family and friends to find a reason to hold on to life and try to survive. The weather, the selections, and family, were the three biggest things that costed some prisoners their lives and affected the will of others to live. Elie uses dialogue and examples of items and family members that the prisoners lost or were afraid to lose to show what caused some prisoners give up all hope of survival and why other prisoners were able to endure.