Night by Elie Wiesel

Night is ElieWeisel's candid and horrific account of his survival as a teenager in the Nazi death camps. He writes an autobiographical description of one of the most infamous crimes against humanity in a very personal way. Throughout his journey Elie Wiesel loses faith in God, family and humanity due to the brutal experiences he encountered in the concentration camps.

The first incident that occurred that started his progressive loss of faith in his God was when he was separated from his mother and sisters. "Men to the left! Women to the right" (pg27). This is another reason for Elie to question his faith in God and if there really is a God. He heard of men finding out their wives and daughters were killed, but Elie kept telling himself his mom and sisters were alive and working in a factory. His positive thinking and self-talk many times kept him holding on for another day.

Another event that showed Elie's faith was slowly diminishing is when he realized his father didn't have the strength to survive on his own. "It's too late to save your old father I said to myself" pg 105). He is faced with the grueling dilemma to help his father or do what's best for himself. "Here, every man has to fight for himself and not think of anyone else. Even of his father" (pg 105). He felt extremely guilty because he kne he couldn't save his father and the only way for him to survive was to take care of himself.

Elie begins to question his belief in humanity when his father was struck and he did not attempt to help. "I didn't move. What happened to me? My father had just been struck before my very eyes, and I had not flickered an eyelid" (pg37). No longer did he feel whole inside. The feelings of care and compassion had disappeared for others, and even worse, for his father.

Weisel struggles physically and mentally for life and no longer believes there is a God. "Never shall I forget those moments which murdered my God and my soul and turned my dreams to dust" (pg 32). Elie worked hard to save himself and asks God many times to help him and take him out of his misery. "Why should I bless his name? The eternal, Lord of the universe, the all-powerful and terrible was silent" (pg. 31). Eliezer is confused because he does not know why the Germans would kill in his face, and does not know why God could let such a thing happen. Although these conditions would otherwise cause a person to give up, they made Elie angry and gave him the the courage to live in hopes of getting the answers to the questions he asked about God throughout his journey in the camps.

Book Night by Elie Wiesel