Rhetorical Analysis of Night by Elie Wiesel (UNFINISHED)
In
Night,
a novel by Elie Wiesel, a dark sky looms over Elie and his family. Wiesel’s declaration of intolerance toward the Jewish communities denial of human dignity by the
Nazi party speaks to why this book is celebrated and studied. Wiesels’ firsthand experience incarcerated in Nazi concentration camps and careful descriptions of the things he was subjected to evokes a sense of sympathy for Elie and all of those held captive. Many prisoners were taken wrongfully and were then mistreated further once admitted to the camps if they survived. Wiesel describes the barbaric behavior forced upon the prisoners in detail. In
Night
, Wiesel narrates his life within the camps internally and externally through his changing relationship with his father, the death and horror forced upon those around him, and his waning faith in Gods mercy and benevolence. In
Night
, as Elie is placed into the selection line he is instructed “Men to the left, women to the right,” (Wiesel, 22) and is separated from his mother and sisters forever and is left with his father. Wiesel depicts his father as an unsentimental man who seldom showed emotion (3) but as the novel progresses, the dynamic of Elie and his fathers’ relationship inverts. The more time within the camps the weaker Elie’s father becomes, necessitating Elie take on the role of caretaker. Shortly after a selection,
Elie’s father has his identification number written down and therein ensues panic; “Look, take this knife...I don’t need it any longer…” to which Elie replies in order to keep his father motivated, “ Don’t talk like that, Father.” (Wiesel, 55) This change of roles is symbolic of how maturity is thrusted upon Elie.
Wiesel illustrates the horror the prisoners of Nazi concentration camps in a way which ensures his experience will never be forgotten. One of the first events Elie witnesses as he enters his first camp are
“Infants [being] tossed into the air and used
Night,
a novel by Elie Wiesel, a dark sky looms over Elie and his family. Wiesel’s declaration of intolerance toward the Jewish communities denial of human dignity by the
Nazi party speaks to why this book is celebrated and studied. Wiesels’ firsthand experience incarcerated in Nazi concentration camps and careful descriptions of the things he was subjected to evokes a sense of sympathy for Elie and all of those held captive. Many prisoners were taken wrongfully and were then mistreated further once admitted to the camps if they survived. Wiesel describes the barbaric behavior forced upon the prisoners in detail. In
Night
, Wiesel narrates his life within the camps internally and externally through his changing relationship with his father, the death and horror forced upon those around him, and his waning faith in Gods mercy and benevolence. In
Night
, as Elie is placed into the selection line he is instructed “Men to the left, women to the right,” (Wiesel, 22) and is separated from his mother and sisters forever and is left with his father. Wiesel depicts his father as an unsentimental man who seldom showed emotion (3) but as the novel progresses, the dynamic of Elie and his fathers’ relationship inverts. The more time within the camps the weaker Elie’s father becomes, necessitating Elie take on the role of caretaker. Shortly after a selection,
Elie’s father has his identification number written down and therein ensues panic; “Look, take this knife...I don’t need it any longer…” to which Elie replies in order to keep his father motivated, “ Don’t talk like that, Father.” (Wiesel, 55) This change of roles is symbolic of how maturity is thrusted upon Elie.
Wiesel illustrates the horror the prisoners of Nazi concentration camps in a way which ensures his experience will never be forgotten. One of the first events Elie witnesses as he enters his first camp are
“Infants [being] tossed into the air and used