Night Blog

In the book Night the main character and author, Elie Wiesel changes throughout the book. Elie changes on the inside and outside and as a person all together, because of his one year experience in 5 different concentration camps during the Holocaust in WWII. The first concentration camp Elie went to was Birkenau, then Auschwitz, after Buna, next Gleiwitz, finally Buchenwald where American soldiers freed everyone who was held prisoner including Elie.  At the beginning of the book Wiesel states, “During the day I studied the Talmud, and at night I ran to the synagogue to weep over the destruction of the Temple. One day I asked my father to find me a master to guide me in studies of the Cabala.” (Pg. 1) This quote is showing how at the beginning of the book Elie is very pious, and is seeking a mentor to help better understand the Talmud (similar to a bible for people who are Jewish). Elie also studies the Cabala (ancient Jewish tradition) during the day and at night weeps over the ruins of the synagogue Temple (similar to a church for Jewish people to worship their beliefs). Elie was twelve and instead of being out playing with other kids his age he spent his time studying the Talmud and weeping over something he values and truly believes and has faith in, without anyone asking him to. He even seeks a master to get a better understanding and learn more from it all. Elie has faith in God and doesn't question his reasoning for why things happen.


   At the end of the book Elie loses faith in God. While Elie is in a concentration camp he says, “‘Blessed the Name of the Eternal!’ Why, but why should I 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 Sunday and feast day? Because in His great might he created Auschwitz, Birkenau, Buna, and so many factories of death? How could I say to Him: ‘blessed art Thou, Eternal, Master of the Universe, Who chose us among races to be torched day and night, to see our fathers, our mothers, our brothers, end up in the crematory? Praised be Thy Holy Name, Thou Who hast chosen us to be butchered on Thine altar?” (P. 64). This quote is showing Elie's lose of faith in God. Elie no longer has faith because he doesn't accept God's silence anymore. Elie is mad at God for not doing anything to stop the torture and deaths that were happening in the concentration camps. Since Elie has been in several concentration camps where he has been beaten, starved, seen innocent lives being taken and death all around. Elie doesn't have faith because God hasn't been there for Elie when he was he truly needed Him.

  Elie also changes by, his father son bond he has with his father. At the beginning of the book when they are taken to the first concentration camp and were being told what line to go into Elie says, “The baton pointed to the left. I took half a step forward. I first wanted to see where they would send my father. Were he have gone to the right, I would have run after him” (P. 32).  This quote is showing how much Elie cares for his father because even though he didn't know which line lead to death he would still go to be with his father. He would risk getting in trouble by the guards and going to the line that lead to the crematory to not be separated with his father. At the end of the book when Elie wakes and sees another sick person on what once was his father bed meaning his father had passed Elie says, “I did not weep, and it pained me that I could not weep. But I was out of tears. And deep inside me, if I could have searched the recesses of feeble conscience, I might have found something like: Free at last!” (P. 112) This quote is showing that deep down Elie was glad his father wasn't there to be a burden to him. Elie had to care for him and give pieces of his food that he could have eaten. Elie had weight lifted off his shoulder to not have to care for his father and only focus on caring for himself.