Night By Elie Wiesel Analysis

The Holocaust can easily be defined as one of the most tragic events in history. Masses were left never knowing if death or life was ahead of them. Among the multitude of people affected by the Holocaust, was fifteen year-old Elie Wesiel. Wesiel’s memoir Night written and released in 1960 about his captivating experiences in the Holocaust. Though there were not many survivors of the Holocaust, many of them survived by finding strength through human connection whether meeting a random person in passing or finding strength in family. It was crucial for many to do this in order to survive, including Elie. The theme of finding strength in human connections is strongly depicted by Elie and many others along the way in the memoir Night by Elie Wiesel.

When Elie gets severely harmed for no apparent reason by his cruel Kapo Idek, a French woman he worked with in the warehouse that he had never spoken to gives him a crust of bread and gives him encouragement that potentially saved his life. “Bite your lips, little brother . . . Don’t cry. Keep your anger, your hate, for another day, for later. The day will come but not now . . . Wait. Clench your teeth and wait . . .” (53). If it weren’t for this woman's encouraging words, Elie may have talked back and gotten himself more harmed or worse. This shows how important finding strength through others is to stay alive. In addition to this example, is when a relative of Elie’s asks Elie if his children and wife are well. Elie lies and says yes and his relative goes on to say the only thing that keeps him alive is knowing his children and wife are still alive.“The only thing that keeps me alive… is to know that Reizel and the little ones are still alive. Were it not for them. I would give up.” (45). This is an example of finding strength through human connections as Stein’s will to live would likely be gone if he found out that Elie’s mother had not heard from them in years and his belief that they are alive continues to give him hope and find strength to carry on throughout. Through these quotes it's clear that you have to find strength in human relationships in order to