Wiesel also writes develops the theme of dehumanization in order to convey that the Nazi’s had consumed the feeling of humanity of the Jews. There were many acts that dehumanized the Jews which included starvation, beatings, murders, separation of families, theft of their belongings, and other things. Throughout the book, dehumanization grows and slowly exhausts the Jews until they have all sense of being human. After hearing about the bombing of the Buna factory, Wiesel writes, “We were not afraid. And yet, if a bomb had fallen on the blocks, it would have claimed hundreds of inmates’ lives. But we no longer feared death, in any event not this particular death,” (60). By this point, Wiesel and the other Jews no longer fear death, as they are taking a part of the forced labor, they have lost their purpose of life, their …show more content…
As they go through forced labor and hear about bombings, it seems like they’re all starting to lose their emotions- what makes them human. One week later in Appelplatz, they were returning from work when they heard orders given more harshly than before, “‘Caps off!’ the Lageralteste suddenly shouted. Ten thousand caps came off at once. ‘Cover your heads!’ Ten thousand caps were back on our heads, at lightning speed,” (61). As the forced labor continues but with harsher orders, Wiesel and the rest of the Jews seem like soldiers- following orders instantly and know how/when the orders are given. They have no control over themselves anymore, they do not think, and they just follow orders in fear of getting punished. This is almost like how animals at the zoo or sea creatures get treated, recently people have disliked Sea World because they found that employees are