Elie Wiesel’s “Night”: Importance in Remembering the Holocaust

The Purpose and Destiny of “Night”

“I believe it important to emphasize how strongly I feel that books, just like people, have a destiny,” Elie says during the introduction. This truly speaks to a person because there was a purpose to this, all the lives lost, all the families separated. Often when disastrous and horrifying events such as the Holocaust occur, many people typically don’t bring it up. This event is crucial in our history. However, it did happen, and we as a country need to acknowledge that.

This book is about history, the moment they never thought that just for being Jewish, such a horror could happen. Elie Wiesel wrote this book to communicate his experiences and what happened. One of the main themes throughout the book is the title of the book “Night.” There are multiple references from Elie about the night during the book. The word “night” is used constantly, and Elie recalls every night and morning throughout the book. For example, the night can be used as symbolism for the Holocaust, which made families and thousands of Jews divided for life in the darkness and somber moments in concentration camps.

Violence: A Predominant Theme

Another theme would be violence. Violence affected the Jews in many ways. They were forced, beaten, and abused. The last theme is Faith.
The main theme is violence. Violence is shown throughout the whole book. “Over there, that’s where they will take you. Over there will be your grave. You still don’t understand? You sons of b******. Don’t you understand anything? You will be burned…turned to ashes.” Someone was warning them of what could happen. No one there remained hopeful. It was all crushed, their dreams, future, and families.
A developing theme throughout the story is seen in the word “Night.” It symbolized darkness and somber feelings. “I watched darkness fade…I was no longer afraid…I was overcome by fatigue”.

Symbolism of “Night”

Throughout the story, the weakness of faith emerges. Elie’s faith in the integrity of the world is completely shaken by the cruelty and evil he witnesses during the Holocaust. He cannot picture the concentration camps’ unbelievable and inhumane cruelty that could potentially reflect positively. He wonders how God could possibly be part of this. His faith is even more shaken when he sees not only the Nazi’s behavior but also the selfishness of the Jews. But he sees that the Holocaust exposes the selfishness, evil and atrocious behavior of which everybody-not, only the Nazis, but also the fellow prisoners, he feels God might not exist at all.

Conclusion

The book Night was somber and, at times, hard to read. However, it was real, and it did happen. More people need to be aware of it and realize what millions of Jews were forced into life experiences.

References:

1. Wiesel, Elie. “Night.”