In Elie Wiesel?s novel Night, the main character Elizer goes through a series of changes. Elizer, "Elie", is born in a town in Transylvania Hungary by the name of Sighet in 1928. Elie lives in a very highly orthodox Jewish family, and this shows in many of his personality traits and interest as a young man. Early on, Elie likes to study many Jewish texts. Before 1944, the Jews in Hungry were not affected by the terrible happenings in Europe. In 1933 Hitler came into power and blamed Germany?s problems on the Jews. Under his rule, Hitler and his administration created laws and worked to exterminate the Jews. As the war went on, Hitler developed a "Final Solution" which was an extermination of Europe?s Jews. The most Jews were killed in concentration camps where Jews were forced to do labor and live imprisoned. It was Elie?s struggle to survive as a teenager in a camp that changed his emotional maturity, his relationship with his father, and his faith in God and religion.
Because of the struggles Elie goes through, Elie loses his innocence and gains an incredible level of emotional maturity. Elie starts out as an innocent young boy full of interest, curiosity, and the potential for incredible success. He lives at first a seemingly nice and normal life with loving parents. Elie?s innocence can be seen when he is with his father after he has been separated from the rest of his family and he witnesses the cremation of babies and adults. He says, "Not far from us flames were leaping up from a ditch, gigantic flames?Babies! Yes, I saw it with my own eyes?I pinched my face. Was I still alive? Was I awake? I could not believe it. How could it be possible for them to burn people, children, and the world to keep silent? No, none of this could be true. It was a nightmare?(pg. 30)" This quote illustrates the naivety Elie has about the true cruelty and inhumanity that exist not only in some people but especially behind the Nazi forces under Hitler?s rule. The events are such an opposite extreme from what Elie knows to be the world; he cannot believe what his own eyes are showing him. Later on, because of the things Elie has witnessed, he grows up seemingly cold hearted and he himself seems to have lost some of his humanity. This new emotional state Elie is in can be seen when Elie awakes and sees that his father has been taken away to the crematory. He says, "I awoke January 29th at dawn?they must have taken [my father] away before dawn and carried him to the crematory. He may still have been breathing?I did not weep, and it pained me that I could not weep. But I had no more tears. (Pg. 106)" This quote that shows Elie does not have the tears to cry for his father, who he had cared for and looked after through the most trying trials in his life, shows the incredible effect his journey has had on him. A person that looked on in horror and disbelief when he witnessed nameless children being burned has been through so much he seems emotionless that his own blood is suffering the same fate. His emotions have matured beyond the childlike naivety he once had.
Not only does Elie?s plight change his emotional maturity, but also it changes the relationship he has with his father. As Elie continues on his struggle through his adolescent life, his devotion to his father weakens and Elie begins to see him as a burden. Elie starts out with a good relationship with his father. As a respected leader, his father conveys a sense of tradition and pride that exist in Elie before going to the death camp. When he and his father are separated from the rest of the family, their blood at first stays strong and Elie does not disrespect his father. The two develop a deep bond and understanding illustrated when Elie looks for his father during Rosh Hashanah. Elie says, "I ran off to look for my father?He was standing near the wall, bowed down, his shoulders sagging as though beneath a heavy burden. I went up to him, took his hand and kissed it. A tear fell upon it. Whose was that tear? Mine? His? I said nothing. Nor did he. We had never understood one another so clearly. (Pg. 65)" This quote illustrates the bond that has developed strongly between Elie and his father in being through their horrific experiences together. Without saying a word they are able to convey one another?s feelings perfectly. As Elie and his father?s troubled times continue, Elie starts to see his father as a inconvenience. On the journey to Buchenwald, Elie?s attitude towards his father can be seen when he cannot find his father. Elie says, "It was daytime when I awoke. And then I remembered I had a father?I had known that he was at the end, on the brink of death, and yet I had abandoned him. I went out to look for him. But at the same moment this thought came into my mind: ?Don?s let me find him! If only I could get rid of this dead weight, so that I could use all of my strength to struggle for my own survival, and only worry about myself.? (Pg. 101)" Even though Elie feels ashamed after thinking this, it shows him being able to even think about that for a minute, the incredible relationship dynamic he and his father hold has changed. Before they could understand each other in a silent moment, now Elie is wishing he didn?t have to put up with the burden.
Elie?s struggle along with changing his relationship with his father also changes his view on his God and religion. Through Elie?s horrifying experiences in the Nazi death camp, Elie loses the diehard faith he had in his Jewish culture and in God. Elie starts off very committed to the study of Jewish culture and his belief in God. This faith and passion for his religion is seen early in a conversation with Elie and Moshe the Beadle about why Elie prays and why he cries when he does so. Elie says, "The question had never entered my head. I wept because?because of something inside me that felt the need for tears?Why did I pray? A strangle question. Why did I live? Why did I breathe? (Pg. 2)" This quote shows the blind faith and passion Elie has for God and his Jewish beliefs. His comparison of praying as something as fundamental as living or breathing truly shows how important God and religion is in his everyday life. Later, after Elie has gone through so much tremendous pain and suffering, his views and faith in his religion and god diminish. At summer?s end in 1944 during Rosh Hashanah, Elie?s changed view on God and religion can be seen. He feels he has no reason to bless God when his people are suffering so much. He feels his people are not the "chosen people" and denies his faith. Elie says, "What are You, my God, compared to this afflicted crowd, proclaiming You their faith, their anger, their revolt? What does your greatness mean Lord of the universe, in the face of all this weakness, this decomposition, and this decay? (Pg. 63)" He continues to say, "Why, but why should we bless him? In every fiber I rebelled. Because He had thousands of children burned in His pits? Because He kept six crematories working night and day, on Sundays and feast days? Because His great might He had created Auschwitz, Birkenau, Buna, and so many factories of death? (Pg. 64)" This quote shows the passion of hate and resentment he has gained for God because he has allowed Elie and his people to go through such hard times. He says and thinks these things in a very ridiculing way and it is obvious that passion for God does not exist anymore and has been replaced by hatred.
In conclusion, Elie is taken through several changes because of the extraordinary challenges he had to face in the Nazi death camp. Elie throughout his journey loses his innocence and gains a great deal of emotional maturity. Elie?s devotion for his father weakens as his time in the camp goes on. Elie also eventually loses almost all of his faith in God and in his religion. Elie?s life is an example of how people?s lives and views change when they are put through a traumatic course of events.
Другие работы по теме:
Moon Essay Research Paper Conclusion on the
Moon Essay, Research Paper Conclusion on the Moon Watch When I first got this assignment I was thinking I am never going to be able to do this every night for a month. I surprised myself once again. This class has made me doubt myself many times but I always seem to pull myself up to do it. I believe I did very well on this experiment and I achieved the purpose.
Plur Essay Research Paper PLURthe land of
Plur Essay, Research Paper P*L*U*R the land of kandykidz, raves & happiness ?Children of the night? children of the night dreding to see daylight it all begins around eleven or
Poem Essay Research Paper I went to
Poem Essay, Research Paper I went to bed last night Wishing on a star Your light shines in my heart No matter where you are It’s hard for me to say My words are sometimes few
Darkness Poem Essay Research Paper As a
Darkness (Poem) Essay, Research Paper As a young girl cries her father dies just another victim of a dark night Darkness creeps and shorten nights with just a glimsp pale light
They Know Essay Research Paper Out of
They Know Essay, Research Paper Out of my love for you is conceived only pain However that gives me some pleasure Your face reflects the night of a full moon
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Essay Research Paper If
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Essay, Research Paper If you take a close look at your own behavior you will probably come to the conclusion that some of the things you tend to do are a bit obsessive. We may check several times throughout the night to make sure a door is locked, or we may avoid stepping on cracks in the sidewalk.
The Haunted Trail Essay Research Paper Legends
The Haunted Trail Essay, Research Paper Legends The Haunted Trail Well, there was once like fifteen or twen’y years ago this kid, right. An’ this kid was like all f***ed up on like ?shrooms an’ acid an’ stuff. Kinda like ______. (Laughter) Anyway this night he got inna fight with his parents, an’ he like skitzed out an’ went nuts an’ ran out the back door of the house.
Economics Of Sex Essay Research Paper This
Economics Of Sex Essay, Research Paper This mini-paper is to study how people of different moral standard choose their one-night-stand partners. At a late stage of this paper, I will state the limitations of this theory.
Dreamer
’s Dream Essay, Research Paper You may cry and wipe your tears away, Bleed may you do till the end of days, You may see and dream the bay Of stones and shadows of sorrow today.
Baby
’s Essay, Research Paper I expected after hearing all about this baby for this to be very interesting, and depending on what baby I got I would make my conclusions on what I expected for that night. I let my friend choose which hand the normal card was in. I think I will just pick for myself next time. Because then he chose the cranky baby and I was in for a long night.
Shane Essay Research Paper Sometimes I need
Shane Essay, Research Paper Sometimes, I need you more than I need air And sometimes I miss you more than I will forever, never forget the times that we have shaared. The are priceless
Moments Essay Research Paper I know I
Moments Essay, Research Paper I know I said yes, But deep down inside, Divided, Undecided. Days passed. That night, Before the day, Sleepless, Full of thoughts,
Crefew Essay Research Paper Graduation Night CurfewFive
Crefew Essay, Research Paper Graduation Night Curfew Five years ago I graduated from high school. I felt like I was finally free of the rules that parents enforced while I was in school. Example of my parents rules are no playing till after homework is done and curfew on school nights. After all, I just finished twelve years of school and deserved some reward.
Life And Chess Essay Research Paper To
Life And Chess Essay, Research Paper To run, to hide, to fight, Are the questions we face, day and night. To run, to hide, to fight, You have options, choose well, choose right.
Psycology Essay Research Paper Sleep and BeyondThis
Psycology Essay, Research Paper Sleep and Beyond This is going to be my essay about sleep. When you are asleep many things take place . It is not just the rest of the day but also the recovery of the body so that it can get the energy it might need for the following day .There are 3 major types of sleep that take place in the average night .
The Difference Between Men
& Women Essay, Research Paper Having been a member of the female gender for almost twenty years, I?ve come to realize the differences between men and women are like night and day.
Massive Monsters Essay Research Paper Massive Monster
Massive Monsters Essay, Research Paper Massive Monster Murders The monster that they call Grendel is on the loose. He has been causing terror to many civilians in Herot for the past 12 years. Murdering and spreading blood shed all across the town. He likes to strike at night, and he will only come out at night when everybody is at rest not expecting the kill.
Him Essay Research Paper I think about
Him Essay, Research Paper I think about him day and night The though won’t go away And, oh, how I would hold him tight every second of the day He is perfect, that is true, not an average me or you
Night Essay Research Paper The NightNight by
Night Essay, Research Paper The Night Night by Elie Wiesel is a story of one of the few Holocausts survives. He and the many others are being persecuted for their religious beliefs. In the Jewish community of Sighet everyone was in disbelief for what was in store for them. Then the acts of cruelty to each other in time of need, to hoping to survive one day to the next.
In The Night Essay Research Paper Listen
In The Night Essay, Research Paper Listen to our loud silent dear God Listen to our cry; We fall to your feet Yet our cries are not heard; We died under fear By your side
Additional Songs From Sol Funaroff
’s Musical "Tuff Scufflin" Essay, Research Paper JIM ALONG JOSEY My sister Rose the other night did dream That she was floatin up and down the stream,
8 Nights Essay Research Paper 8 nightsA
8 Nights Essay, Research Paper 8 nights -A murder on the eighth night was caused by an old mans “evil” eye. An unidentified old man was murdered in his own residence last night when his butler confessed to murdering him. The butler?s motive was to get rid of the old man?s “evil” looking eye.
Poem Do You Know Mom
…? Essay, Research Paper Do you know mom…? Every night before I go to sleep, I think about you, As I lay in bed, alone in my own little world of thoughts, You are there with me “my mother.”
Comparison Essay Essay Research Paper Comparison EssayTwo
Comparison Essay Essay, Research Paper Comparison Essay Two individuals dominate the late night airwaves, Jay Leno and David Letterman. Leno uses a conservative humor and Letterman’s humor is progressive. While the two shows claim to be different, they both follow the same format. Both shows include a ten-minute stand up routine, strange co-hosts and interviews with celebrity guests.
Night Terrors Essay Research Paper Night TerrorsNight
Night Terrors Essay, Research Paper Night Terrors Night terrors are relatively common occurrence that appears mostly in young children typically between the ages of three and five year olds. A night terror usually occurs after the child goes to bed. Night terrors can be hereditary. If you or your spouse had them as a young child, most likely your child will get them too.
The Little Girl Essay Research Paper Her
The Little Girl Essay, Research Paper Her parents never took young girls to church, Never spoke of his name, Never read her his words, Two non-beleivers walking lost in this world,
You Need A
… Essay, Research Paper You need a man, a man like me, Together we will sail across the sea. You need a man who doesn’t run away in fright, You need a man that will stay with you all night.
Psychology Dreams Essay Research Paper Dreams Dreams
Psychology: Dreams Essay, Research Paper Dreams Dreams, why do we dream. I thing we dream because we are thinking while we are sleeping and our brain puts those thought into a weird movie in our head. Some people think dreams are the keys to lifes problem. They say in your dreams there are symbolic things that mean something different.
Hot Dog Essay Research Paper The Night
Hot Dog Essay, Research Paper The Night I Became a Convict (Well it sure seemed like it) Introduction: Police Sirens glaring ? lights flashing ? nervous and full of fright
Ramadan Essay Research Paper RamadanRamdan the ninth
Ramadan Essay, Research Paper Ramadan Ramdan, the ninth month of the Islamic year, is a holy month of fasting ordained by the Koran for all adult Muslims . According to the Koran, the fast of Ramadan has been