Analysis Of Ellie Wiesel's Night

A memoir of the holocaust written by Ellie Wiesel, “Night” is a summarization of Wiesel’s personal experience as a young Jewish boy during World War II. Though the fear, anguish, and sorrow of the Holocaust may never truly be depicted properly from all angles, this short novel provides reader’s with a further look into the Holocaust from a Jewish prisoner point of view. Learning about this dark time in history is not ideal for many people, nonetheless it is very important that we must be aware of the world we live in. Learning through words written directly from a Holocaust survivor is a different experience than learning through statistics and books based on information released. Wiesel’s interpretation of the holocaust is factual information

ix), Wiesel writes, “All the dictionary had to offer seemed meager, pale, lifeless. Was there a way to describe the last journey in sealed cattle cars, the last voyage towards the unknown?”. Elie struggled to confine his story into one short novel and he rewrote this book many times. He battled with the language barrier from Yiddish to English, and feared he would not accurately portray things for what they were. Elie’s use of dialogue among prisoners and officers plays a major role in this book, and allows readers to interpret the wicked and cruel setting. Providing direct quotes and real experiences, Elie Wiesel notably paints a dark and evident picture of the holocaust for all

Those who were unfit to work were killed immediately. Babies and children were burnt by the truckload, and elderly people shot on the spot. The Jews were forced to watch hangings of those who disobeyed orders, one of which being a small child. At this point the prisoner’s only motive is their own survival, and their faith in their God is diminishing. Eliezer loses faith in not only his God, but also himself and the people around him. Months go by working in a concentration camp, and Eliezer must undergo an operation for a foot injury to avoid amputation. During Eliezer’s stay in the infirmary, the camp was evacuated due to the Russians advancement. Many prisoners wished to succumb to their death rather than continue on this timeless journey. The prisoners were ordered to march to Gleiwitz, running 50 miles in a snow storm. Many of the prisoners did not survive this march as a result of the harsh weather and severe exhaustion. Once the Jews arrived in Gleiwitz they were shoved into cattle cars yet again. Leaving Gleiwitz there were 100 Jews packed in the cattle car, and upon arrival at the final camp, Buchenwald, there were a mere 12 prisoners left. Eliezer and his father Shlomo manage to stay alive-and to stay together. Having one another was a key part in their survival for means of motivation and support. Later in Buchenwald, Shlomo dies of dysentery and physical wounds. Eliezer holds on and maintains his