Literary Analysis
In this story the narrator, Elie Wiesel tells the story his life during the Holocaust. In the beginning of book Elie is a young boy who is always striving to study more and more in his Jewish religion and culture(Wiesel 2). While he was still a young boy Elie was taken, along with all the other Jewish people in their town to Auschwitz(Wiesel 14). The journey was very long. Near the end of their journey all of the Jews are placed on over packed trains headed to Auschwitz(Wiesel 20). Elie and his family arrived at Auschwitz, a Nazi concentration camp(Wiesel 26). Shortly after arriving to the smoke filled concentration camp the men and women are separated(Wiesel 27). The strongest and healthiest men are the only ones spared from the raging fires of Auschwitz(Wiesel 29). Elie's mother and sister are both taken away to the fires, although Elie did not know it at the time, it was the last time he would ever see his mother and sister(Wiesel 27). By some miracle Elie and his father are both able to meet up and survive(Wiesel 31). For a while Elie and his father both needed to survive the horrible conditions of Auschwitz. Near the end of the WWII Russia took the camp that Elie and his father were in(Wiesel 78). Unfortunately they had just evacuated with the other prisoners to Buchenwald(Wiesel 78). Many prisoners died on the way to Buchenwald because of the terrible living conditions and ruthless SS officers(Wiesel 81). At Buchenwald Elie's father struggles to fight against dysentery(severe infection of the intestines) but he eventually dies(Wiesel 106). Elie was eventually freed from Buchenwald when the war ended(Wiesel 109).
Faith is by far the most prevalent theme in Night. In the beginning of the book Elie is very religious and spends most of his time studying Jewish religion(Wiesel 2). As the prisoners first arrived at Auschwitz many of them still exercised their faith by singing hymns and praying(Wiesel 31). As situations get worse however, the prisoners begin to reject God and loose all faith in him(Wiesel 61). Then on the Jewish New Year, normally a time of celebration and thanksgiving Elie and other prisoners faith is at an all time low(Wiesel 63). Every day at Auschwitz was miserable because the prisoners spirits were so low. During the trip to Buchenwald many prisoners simply lost the will to live(Wiesel 81). Only after Elie's father died did Elie finally pray to a God he did not believe in again. Elie's prayer slowly restarted his faith in God again(Wiesel 106).
Faith is by far the most prevalent theme in Night. In the beginning of the book Elie is very religious and spends most of his time studying Jewish religion(Wiesel 2). As the prisoners first arrived at Auschwitz many of them still exercised their faith by singing hymns and praying(Wiesel 31). As situations get worse however, the prisoners begin to reject God and loose all faith in him(Wiesel 61). Then on the Jewish New Year, normally a time of celebration and thanksgiving Elie and other prisoners faith is at an all time low(Wiesel 63). Every day at Auschwitz was miserable because the prisoners spirits were so low. During the trip to Buchenwald many prisoners simply lost the will to live(Wiesel 81). Only after Elie's father died did Elie finally pray to a God he did not believe in again. Elie's prayer slowly restarted his faith in God again(Wiesel 106).