Elie Wiesel was one of many whom experienced the unthinkable. As a young teenager his life was changed when he was ripped away from his norms due to religious persecution during World War II. Through his experiences written in his autobiographical book, Night, it is evident that Wiesel experienced exile. Edward Said, a literary theorist and cultural critic, has the view that “exile is strangely compelling to think about but terrible to experience.” Wiesel might agree, as he experienced exile and knows the horrors, but continues to share his story. Said has also stated that exile is alienating while also being enriching. Elie Wiesel can attest to Said’s statements since having experienced exile with his religion and freedom. For people that …show more content…
People, for the most part, have the freedom to do as they please. Included in Night is how Wiesel’s amount of freedom changes. At the beginning of the book some of the things he did and how his life was written about. Wiesel was able to talk to Moshe the Beadle almost every night. It’s also evident to the reader that Wiesel was once apart of a Zionist Youth organization. Simple things like these were soon taken away from Elie Wiesel. Rules were put into place to prevent Jews from living where they wanted to and worshiping in their synagogues. Soon Wiesel, among many others, would be deported and separated from their families. Having to follow all of these rules and regulations limited people’s freedom-making freedom virtually non-existent in concentration camps. Though being exiled from freedom can also be seen as enriching. Having something taken away can make people realize how much something means when they get that thing back. That doesn’t mean that experiencing exile from freedom isn’t also alienating. The rules Wiesel and others lived with in concentration camps made some of loose value in themselves. Being able to do as one pleases makes a person feel like a person. Although being in a camp and being able to survive is an extreme example, it probably made Elie Wiesel realize that life is precious. Being exiled from freedom caused Wiesel’s life to change