As time went by in the camps, their relationship changed from a typical relationship to an extraordinary and strong friendship. It now displays respect, equal treatment, and equal support …show more content…
It is such a huge contrast to some other relationships between fathers and sons in the story. Elie sees a horrendous incident taking place between a father and son. A fight broke out on the train to Buchenwald. Germans find it fun in throwing pieces of bread onto the train for the Jews to fight over. During this fight, Elie sees a fight take place between a father and his son over a piece of bread, “Stunned by the blows, the old man was crying... Meir, my little Meir! Don't you recognize me … You're killing your father… I have bread…for you too..." (Wiesel 101). This was a moment when their relationship was tested, and the son betrayed his father. It is amazing to see how Elie and his father keep such strong of love and reliance towards each other during the Holocaust; while others are abandoning, killing, or mistreating their own friends or even family members.
Throughout this novel, it was evident that the relationship between Elie and his father grows over the course of the story, and develops a reversed role of father and son. In the beginning of the novel, the two had a typical father-son relationship. As time passes by, their relationship evolves strongly and deeply because of the suffering that they endure. Elie and his father’s bond is very strong, compared to others, who betray their family for survival. The readers are inspired by the compassion and loving care for his father over the harsh