Juxtaposition In Night By Elie Wiesel

When facing hardships, most change their individuality to mitigate the effects of the new environment. In the memoir, Night by Elie Wiesel, one can see transformation in response to the cruelties Mr. Wiesel faces during the Holocaust. The physical and emotional torment he faces paints a painful picture of the world. The author uses juxtaposition to demonstrate how the suffering Jews endure, pushing them away from their faith. The use of symbolism shows the morphing of Mr. Wiesel’s identity due to his confrontation with dehumanization and torment based on his beliefs. Visual imagery aids the reader in understanding the loss of innocence of a boy amid such despair and the transformation that follows. Through these literary features, the author

Many try holding on to their faith awaiting an answer to their torment from God, however, such answers do not arrive for the Jews and the author demonstrates this through the use of juxtaposition. The Nazis order the death of a kid who tries sabotaging the camp. A fellow Jew, who witnesses the death of the child asks, “where is God?” in desperation to which Mr. Wiesel responds, “hanging in the gallows” (Wiesel, 65). Mr. Wiesel is juxtaposing the existence of God with that of the silent kid. This exhibits the disdain he faces altering his belief from a merciful to a silent God. Additionally, when Mr. Wiesel is sitting on his bed, his neighbour says, “I have more faith in Hitler than anyone. He has kept his promises to the Jews” (Wiesel, 81). He says God can not fulfill his promises of keeping his people safe whereas Hilter keeps his promises to persecute them. Such a crude juxtaposition of God’s empty promises of peace to Hitler’s persecution demonstrates the radical transformation the Jews face in their condition. Through the juxtaposition, the author demonstrates the silence of God the Jews face along with their suffering, amplifying their torment and resulting in their transformation in

Using visual imagery, the author points out, moments where horrible events occur but no one reacts because it is a normal occurrence for them. As Jews are about to die, a prisoner says “This ceremony, will it be over soon? I am hungry” (Wiesel, 62). Through the imagery of a ‘ceremony’, the author demonstrates the idea that the hanging of the Jews is an event of joy and peace. However, in reality, the Jews die and even then the character prioritizes their hunger over the unjust death of fellow Jews. They realize it may happen to them if they do not regain their energy through sustenance. Before the death of Mr. Wiesel’s father, he stays with him and states, “I remained more than an hour, leaning over him, looking at him, etching his bloody, broken face into my mind. Then I had to go to sleep” (Wiesel, 112). Mr. Wiesel does not react to the immediacy of the situation where his father can potentially die, but rather he sat in silence and went to sleep. The imagery of the ‘broken face’ demonstrates the helplessness of his father which he ignores. He believes nothing would change and tomorrow would be as difficult as today and thus sleep is more beneficial for him. In both situations, desperation has led the people to prioritize their needs over the life of fellow Jews. The use of visual imagery demonstrates the loss of innocence