Reet Kaur Mrs. Ainge English 9.1 3-27-23 Night Reflective Essay How does one survive the holocaust? What motivates them after losing so much? Is it God? Is it the desire for free will once again? This issue is explored in Night, by Elie Wiesel. This book follows the life of a 15-year-old Jewish boy named Elie as he experiences his life turned upside down due to his religious beliefs. For him to survive a period of pain and suffering, he needs to have faith, his father, and learn to adapt to his new surroundings. Firstly, Elie’s faith gives him hope and strength during the darkest moments of his imprisonment. It provides him with a sense of purpose and a reason to keep going, even when everything seems hopeless. In the novel, it states, …show more content…
Throughout their time in the concentration camps, Wiesel’s father provided him with emotional support and encouraged him to keep going. In the novel, it states, “I decided to give my father lessons in marching in step, in keeping time. We began practicing in front of our block… The inmates made fun of us: ‘Look at the little officer, teaching the old man to march’” (Wiesel 55). This quote explains how Elie is helping his father learn how to march properly to prevent him from getting beaten which shows that Elie has a motive for wanting to stay alive to help his father. In the text, it also states, “‘Here, take this knife,’ he said. ‘I won’t need it anymore. You may find it useful. Also take this spoon. Don’t sell it. Quickly! Go ahead, take what I’m giving you! My inheritance…” (Wiesel 75). This excerpt shows the bond between Elie and his father and how even though his father doesn’t have much, he still is willing to pass on something for Elie to inherit. Their bond and his father’s encouragement have given Elie a sense of purpose and have helped him endure the hardships of the concentration …show more content…
As conditions worsened, Wiesel became more resourceful and learned how to navigate the concentration camp system. In the text, it states, “‘A-7713!’ I stepped forward. ‘A crate!’ he ordered. They brought a crate ‘Lie down on it! On your belly!’ I obeyed. I no longer felt anything except the lashes of the whip” (Wiesel 57). This quote explains how he has dealt with a brutal punishment before and has learned to follow the system. Therefore, through his experiences, he has learned how to obtain extra food and clothing, how to avoid punishment, and how to stay