Essay On What Is A Turning Point For Elie Wiesel
Angeline Yang
Mrs. Kim
English 10 (E)
March 30, 2016
Write about this line on page 29 – “The beloved objects that we carried with us from place to place were now left behind in the wagon, and with them, finally our illusions. “ What do you think this means? How was this a turning point for Elie? After Hitler’s announcement to annihilate the Jews and the Anti-Semitic attacks on the Jews of Budapest, “the race toward death had begun” (10). Restrictions were held upon the Jews. Under the pressure of death, Jews were forced to yield “gold, jewelry, or any valuables” (10) to the authorities. Then, the Germans created two ghettos in Sighet and encircled the Jews’ houses by “barbed wire” (11). Yet, they were optimistic. They thought it would …show more content…
Taking into the consideration of thirst, hunger, and overly-crowded wagons, the trip was intolerable. Finally, the car door glided aside. The Hungarian lieutenant threatened the Jews to turn in their last possessions, either “gold, silver, or watches” (24). Then, the door clanked shut, and the trip continued until they reached their final destination, Birkenau. In front of them were “the flames” (28), and “the smell of burning flesh” (28) that brought them back to the reality of their lives. They recognized that they no longer had “the beloved objects that [they] had carried from place to place” (29) nor “[their] illusions” (29).
Based on my thoughts, Elie was insinuating that the Germans not only stripped off their possessions but also their hopes. In the face of fear, hardships and tragedy, the Jews’ optimisms were debilitated. Furthermore, when the Jews arrived the camp, men and women were separated as commanded by an SS man with a machine gun. With his “eight simple, short words”, which are “Men to the left! Women to the right”, he separated Elie’s family. It was a turning point for Elie for it was “the moment in time and the place where [he] was leaving his mother and Tzipora forever”
Mrs. Kim
English 10 (E)
March 30, 2016
Write about this line on page 29 – “The beloved objects that we carried with us from place to place were now left behind in the wagon, and with them, finally our illusions. “ What do you think this means? How was this a turning point for Elie? After Hitler’s announcement to annihilate the Jews and the Anti-Semitic attacks on the Jews of Budapest, “the race toward death had begun” (10). Restrictions were held upon the Jews. Under the pressure of death, Jews were forced to yield “gold, jewelry, or any valuables” (10) to the authorities. Then, the Germans created two ghettos in Sighet and encircled the Jews’ houses by “barbed wire” (11). Yet, they were optimistic. They thought it would …show more content…
Taking into the consideration of thirst, hunger, and overly-crowded wagons, the trip was intolerable. Finally, the car door glided aside. The Hungarian lieutenant threatened the Jews to turn in their last possessions, either “gold, silver, or watches” (24). Then, the door clanked shut, and the trip continued until they reached their final destination, Birkenau. In front of them were “the flames” (28), and “the smell of burning flesh” (28) that brought them back to the reality of their lives. They recognized that they no longer had “the beloved objects that [they] had carried from place to place” (29) nor “[their] illusions” (29).
Based on my thoughts, Elie was insinuating that the Germans not only stripped off their possessions but also their hopes. In the face of fear, hardships and tragedy, the Jews’ optimisms were debilitated. Furthermore, when the Jews arrived the camp, men and women were separated as commanded by an SS man with a machine gun. With his “eight simple, short words”, which are “Men to the left! Women to the right”, he separated Elie’s family. It was a turning point for Elie for it was “the moment in time and the place where [he] was leaving his mother and Tzipora forever”