The Collapse Of Compassion In Elie Wiesel's Night

The prisoners have experienced the collapse of compassion when they met Mrs. Schächter on the train. The collapse of compassion is a theory that states that people turn off their compassion when more than one person is suffering. Firstly, Elie experienced the collapse of compassion when he saw Mrs. Schäcter on the train. The autobiography, Night, states, “She was in her fifties and her ten-year-old son was with her, crouched in a corner. Her husband and two older sons had been deported with the first transport, by mistake” (Wiesel 24). Elie knew what happened to her husband and sons, and he saw it as normal. This is considered the collapse of compassion because to Elie it was normal; it happened to other Jews so it was not that important. He felt no compassion for her, he thought sure it was a bad thing but it will

When they actually struck her, people shouted their approval: Keep her quiet! Make that madwoman shut up. She's not the only one here...” (Wiesel 26). The prisoners were encouraging her to get hit and choked so she can be quiet. This is considered the collapse of compassion because they do not feel bad for her if she gets hit. They have seen so many of their people being hit that another one was no big deal. Thirdly, the prisoners experienced the collapse of compassion coming from the German officer. “... asking him to have the sick woman moved to a hospital car. "Patience," the German replied, "patience. She'll be taken there soon” (Wiesel 28). This was not the first train that had passed. The German officer was already accustomed to seeing the sick people in train. This is considered the collapse of compassion because the German officer did not make any move to take Mrs. Schäcter to get help. He did not feel bad for her because other people were sick and if he took her he would have to take the others who were also sick. He thought the others have made it so she can