The crime against humanity known as The Holocaust started with the initial establishment of concentration camps in 1933, and was brought to an end in 1945 with the conclusion of World War II. In May of 1944, Elie Wiesel and his family were deported to Auschwitz, and in January of 1945, Elie and his father were evacuated to Buchenwald. Night is a personal memoir that follows Elie’s journey through this Dante-esque Hell. Elie Wiesel’s autobiography is a perfect example of bildungsroman, as its entire premise is to show the effects of the Holocaust on the psyche of an idealistic young man whose faith undergoes the most severe test one could imagine. Elie applies literary strategies such as characterization, conflict, irony, juxtaposition, suspense …show more content…
“I don't know whether, during the history of the Jewish people, men have ever before recited Kaddish for themselves. ‘Yisgadal, veyiskadash, shmey raba…May His name be celebrated and sanctified…’ whispered my father. For the first time, I felt anger rising within me. Why should I sanctify His name? The Almighty, the eternal and terrible Master of the Universe, chose to be silent. What was there to thank Him for?” (33). Elie is starting to lose his faith in and devotion to God. He manages to hold onto his faith, but he does change his perspective in how he views God. “Never shall I forget those moments that murdered my God and my soul and turned my dreams to ashes.” (34). By claiming that his god was murdered, he implements personification to make a point and drive home exactly how extreme Elie’s shift from his initial self was. He feels that his God was murdered. He maintains a tenuous hold on his faith, though. The reality is that his view of God has changed from the way he viewed Him as a child. Personification, juxtaposition, irony, and imagery are not the only devices used, as the author also uses antithesis to show the contrast between characters personalities before and during the