Night Family Quotes

The Importance of Family in Night

Safiyah Majumdar

3/6/23

“The baton moved to the left. I took half a step forward. I wanted to see first where they were sending my father. If he went to the right, I would go after him. The baton once again pointed to the left for him too. A weight was lifted from my heart. We didn't yet know which was the better side, right or left, which road led to prison and which led to the crematory, but for the moment, I was happy, I was near my father.” (p. 24) This quote from Night by Elie Wiesel paints a clear picture of what life was like during the holocaust. The book Night is a memoir about Elie's horrific Holocaust experiences with his father in these gruesome concentration camps. He begins his story in Sighet,

"Listen to me, kid. Don’t forget that you are in a concentration camp. In this place, it is every man for himself, and you cannot think of others. Each of us lives and dies alone. You cannot help [your old father] anymore. And you are hurting yourself. In fact, you should be getting his rations'' (p.80) A fellow prisoner points out how everyone fends for themselves in these camps. People survive off of grit and selfishness instead of kindness and sympathy. But even when understanding that the prisoner is right, Elie continues to help his father because he understands how much family matters. As proof that Elie has to work harder for the both of them, Elie looks after his father while he is incredibly sick despite enduring these brutal labor conditions. “father! I've been looking for you for so long…How do you feel?” he was burning with fever. I cleared away for myself to the coffee caldron. I had a sip. The rest was for him. I can't forget the light of thankfulness in his cuss while he gulped it down... With those few gulps of hot water. I probably brought him more satisfaction than I had done during my whole childhood.” (p.77) This quote explains how sensitive Elie is with his father; How much he cares for and looks after his father. How much he checks on his father's health and remains kind to

His father plays a vital role in his life, not only because of his paternal image but also because he is the only family member Elie had left.“I tightened my grip on my father's hand. The old, familiar fear: not to lose him…I could have screamed in anger. To have lived and endured so much; was I going to let my father die now? I knew that I was no longer arguing with him but with Death itself, with Death that he had already chosen.” (p.76-77) Elie still makes an effort to hold on to his father as a sign of dedication and love. Despite everything they have gone through, losing his father is still his greatest fear. In an effort to avoid losing the last survivor of his family and the only thing keeping his own will to live, he fights to keep his father alive as he slowly dies. Another example of his father's impact, is when Elie suffers the loss of his father and undergoes a series of emotional damage. “it no longer mattered. After my father's death, nothing could touch me anymore.. I spent my days in a state of idleness. And I had but one desire to eat. I no longer thought of my father or my mother” (p. 82) in this quote Elie Weisel paints a vivid image after his father's death. Elie is portrayed with a relentless, lost emotion. Elie talks about the numbness he feels without his father, the only person he trusted. Having his father with him during these trying times at the