Night Elie And His Father's Relationship Analysis

In the book, Night by Elie Wiesel, Elie and his father have a distant relationship, but as the story continues, their relationship grows closer, eventually degenerating, but resolving in peace. Elie and his father have a very distant connection due to the lack of support his father gives to him. Before they are sent away to the camps, Elie and his father have a chance to escape and leave the country and avoid all of this. Elie’s father replies “I am too old my son. I’m too old to start a new life. I’m too old to start from scratch again in a new country so far away. . . .” (Wiesel Pg.6). This shows that Elie’s father chooses to stay instead of doing what is best for his family. Elie also explains “My father was a cultured, rather unsentimental man” (Wiesel Pg.2). Elie and his father are becoming closer, as a result of being in the camp together they have gradually began to grow closer to each other. In the book an assistant of the kapo asks Elie, “Do you want to get into a good unit?” Elie replies by saying “ I certainly do. But on one condition: I want to stay with my father” (Wiesel Pg.46). (Wiesel writes) “I decided to give my father lessons myself, to teach him how to change step, and to keep rhythm” (pg.53).
(Pg.82 Wiesel writes) “I had no right to let myself die. What would my father do without me? I was his only support”. (On pg.84 Wiesel also writes) “I don’t know how long I slept. A few moments or an hour. When I woke up, a frozen hand was patting my cheeks. I forced myself to open my eyes. It was my father” Elie also says, “I’ll watch over you, and then you can watch over me. We won’t let each other fall asleep. We’ll look after each other” (Pg.85 Wiesel). All of these examples of quotes from the book shows how Elie and his father’s relationship progresses into teamwork and perseverance in a very hard time together during the