Bryce Bullock
R. Gibson
ENG IIB
8 March 2023 Night: A Darker Meaning Than The Midnight Sky
Night is a powerful and unforgettable memoir written by Elie Wiesel about his experiences as a Jewish teenager during the Holocaust. The book’s title evokes a sense of darkness and fear that permeates the pages, and it is fitting because it reflects the physical and mental suffering that Wiesel and other Jews endured during their time in concentration camps. The title also has symbolic significance, representing the loss and death that the protagonists experience as they struggle to retain their faith and humanity.
The title Night is layered with meaning, and it is a suitable choice for the book because it reflects the darkness and despair that characterizes the Holocaust. For example, “Suddenly, the silence became oppressive. An SS officer had come in, and with him came the smell of the Angel of Death.” This description of the SS officers shows their presents strikes so much fear into these people they fear for their lives.(pg38 )Wiesel writes about the nightmarish horrors that he witnessed while in concentration camps, including the inhumane treatment of prisoners, the brutal executions, and the constant fear of death. The horrific sites of children
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Throughout the memoir, he struggles with the question of how God could allow such evil to exist, and he grapples with the loss of his own faith in the face of such overwhelming suffering. When Elie sees the burning of innocent children on (pg 33) he says “father if this is how it is then i'm just going to run into the electrical barbed wire fence.” He's giving up; he has nothing to believe in and nothing to live for. The title Night is therefore an extension of this inner darkness, symbolizing the loss of hope and meaning that many Jews experienced as they struggled to make sense of the horrors they