Themes In Night By Elie Wiesel

1059 Words5 Pages

Elie Wiesel, a holocaust survivor that has used his experience to write and publish a memoir, Night. In this book, Wiesel talks about the journey and hardships he and his father faced while imprisoned in the concentration camps. Night portrays numerous themes, one of which being self preservation. This is depicted in a multitude of scenarios along with Wiesel's battle with the temptations that he is faced with in regard to choosing between self preservation and altruism. When one is being forced to endure the abysmal conditions of those who were imprisoned by Nazi soldiers, one becomes desperate. In times of desperation, the morality of individuals is questioned, to others as well as themselves - whether they realize it or not. Prisoners of …show more content…

Despite Eli’s best efforts to bring attention to his fathers illness and get help, there was nothing anyone would or could do to remedy his fathers worsening condition. His father remained ill in the barracks, lying in wait for death to provide the sweet relief he had been longing for. His fathers condition continued to worsen, he began to hallucinate, he could no longer get up to relieve himself, and he became a burden to his bunk mates. Despite this, Elie did his best to care for his father and make peace with those around him. The Blockalteste noticed and observed this, and had given Elie a piece of advice in regard to his fathers being. “Listen to me, kid. Don’t forget that you are in a concentration camp. In this place, it is every man for himself, and you can not think of others. Not even your father. In this place, there is no such thing as father, brother, friend. Each of us lives and dies alone. Let me give you good advice: stop giving your ration of bread and soup to your old father. You cannot help him anymore. And you are hurting yourself. In fact, you should be getting his rations..” (Wiesel 110). Elie did in fact consider and was tempted, though he quickly came to terms with his resolve and conscience. He continued to treat his old father, feeding him, keeping him company and bringing him the occasional portion of water. Despite his dedication, his father had passed away, presumably taken while Elie was asleep, his last words being his son's

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