Reflection On Night

Night’ by Elie Wiesel is his personal account of his experiences in Nazi controlled concentration camps. The memoir begins towards the end of 1941 and records his experiences of the inconceivable horrors committed by the Nazi’s during World War II. The war had been raging for two years and was about to enter Sighet. The Germans believed in the Aryan race and attempted to commit genocide on the ‘lesser’ races, particularly Jews. Through the brutality witnessed, acts of selfishness, the death of his father and the loss of his faith Elie changed. The innocent, deeply religious child had become a young man with a strong sense of morality. By the end of the war Elie could barely recognise himself, the corpse in the mirror, because of what he had
As a young boy he was a very devout Jew and interested in Jewish mysticism. Elie had lived a sheltered life always praying and reflecting on his profound faith. He was one of ‘God’s elect’ and he had lived only for God. Elie believed in God unconditionally. His religious faith evolves, but is never extinguished during his time in concentration camps. Elie believed that his faith would provide him with the answers.

At Auschwitz, Elie sees the notorious Nazi’s at work and questions God. ‘Why should I bless his name?’ The ‘nocturnal silence’ that Elie hears from God causes him to lose confidence in God. Elie begins to rebel against God. When Elie sees the brutal hanging of the Pipel, he again turns against his beliefs. Elie’s faith falters under the horrors he sees. Yet he returns back to his faith. He prayed to God to give him the strength ‘never to do what Rabbi Eliahou’s son had done’ and thanked God for creating mud to keep his
Elie and Chlomo manage to remain close during their entire stay in concentration camps. Throughout their time in the camps, Elie and Chlomo depend on each other for survival. ‘What would I do without him? As their relationship develops Elie comes to realise how much he cares for his father. When the two arrive at Birkenau, Elie clings to his father so ‘not to lose him.’ Throughout their camp life the bond between the two is strong. Chlomo’s paramount concern is his sons’ well being. When Chlomo is picked in selection he gives Elie his ‘inheritance’. Chlomo believed he has about to be killed yet he still trying to protect Elie. When Elie is required to give up his golden crown to Franek the foreman, it is Chlomo who suffers trying to help Elie keep it. However as sons are abandoning their fathers in selfish acts we see Elie begin to support Chlomo. Elie fights to save his father because Chlomo is all he has. Elie was entering manhood, from a dependent child to a responsible man. Yet when Chlomo dies we see Elie grieve deeply for his father. Elie begins to lose his fight for life. “no more reason to live.” The death of Chlomo had changed Elie and scarred him for life. “Had I changed so much?” A once spirited Elie had no become dejected because of his father’s