Violence In Elie Wiesel's Night

Since March of 2011, more than 400,000 lives have been terminated and more than 11 million have been displaced because of the war in Syria. Genocides is the deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially those of a particular ethnic group or nation. This connects to the Holocaust because both are considered mass genocides. Night is a memoir of Elie Wiesel’s horrific experiences in the holocaust. He explains thoroughly in great detail on how the violence he witnessed, or endured, impacted him heavily. Violence, in the memoir, effects Elie and his father, Shlomo, by making them question their faith and improving their relationship.
In the memoir, Night, Elie Wiesel opens up with a violent action, which impacted him and his beliefs
in their faith. When the Wiesel family first came to the concentration camp, Auschwitz, Elie and his father saw babies and small children get thrown in fire. After witnessing that tragedy, people were praying to god, and Elie began to question his faith.“Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp that turned my life into one long night seven times sealed. Never shall I forget that smoke. Never shall I forget the small faces of the children whose bodies I saw transformed into smoke under a silent sky...Never shall I forget those moments that murdered my God and my soul and turned my dreams to ashes...Never” (Wiesel 34). Wiesel reflects that tragic night and explain its lasting effect on his life.That night he will alway remember witnessing a horrific murder and what it is like to have your faith tested. The violence impacted Elie’s belief heavily because beforehand he wanted to be a master in his religion, but now he doesn’t even want to worship God anymore. As the horrendous story proceeds, Elie has witnessed more killings. One specific killing was when the SS officers executed three jews, including an innocent child. “Behind me, I heard the same man asking: "Where is God now?"And I heard a voice within me answer him: "Where is He? Here He is—He is hanging here on this gallows. . . . " (Weisel 65) Based off this statement, Elie was implying that the child who was suffocating was the end to his innocence and his belief in God. The slow agonizing death of the child symbolized Elie’s belief slowly fading. The violence, which sparked the agnosticism, has impacted Elie Wiesel because it continues to test him and impact his belief in God and the studies of Kabbalah.
Violence not only had a negative effect on Elie, but it also positively affected his relationship with his father.
Elie had injured his foot and stayed in a hospital for a couple of weeks to have an operation for his foot. During his stay the war was getting closer and the kappos were planning evacuation. The two options were either to stay and die, or survive, or to evacuate with everybody in camp. “As for me, i was thinking not about death but about not wanting to be separated from my father. We had already suffered so much, endured so much together. This was not the moment to separate.” (Wiesel 82). Even though his foot was still healing, Wiesel went to walk many miles so that he could be with his father. Knowing the risks, he didn’t care what would happen to him, as long as he was with his father. This helps the reader understand how violence impacted the father and son bond. No matter what, they would do anything just to stay together, even if it means they have to take some risks. As the evacuation proceeded, the men were ordered to run several miles. If they did not maintain a steady pace then they would meet death. As Elie continued running, defeat overcame him and he just wanted to give up and rest, knowing he would be killed. “My father’s presence was the only thing that stopped me. He was running next to me out of breath, out of strength. I had no right to let myself die. What would he do without me? I was his sole support.” (Weisel 87). This also convey an
understanding on how strong Elie and his father’s bond was strong. They motivate each other to be strong. Not only do they motivate each other, but they stay strong for each other. Elie father was struggling just as much as he was but he stayed strong to stay with his son. Violence continues to impact their relationship by influencing them to stay strong for each other. In conclusion, violence impacted Elie and his father, Shlomo. Not only does it impact them negatively, but it has a positive effect as well. The memoir, Night, teaches the reader that through the bad things, there will always be a positive. As human beings we shouldn’t contribute to the violence, but we should try our best to prevent it.