Elie Wiesel "Night" review.
By Edward E. Cambas
Elie Wiesel, a winner of a Nobel prize, has been through more than any human being should ever have to go through on this earth. In his book “Night” the author, who is a holocaust survivor himself, lays out the horrible terrifying experiences of his family and friends during the period when the Nazi’s exterminated over six million Jews. It is amazing that the world allowed this to happen, and this is a great story which documents some of the horrific acts which took place. In this book, the author explores what God’s role may have been during this time.
Ellie Wiesel found himself struggling with the concept and goodness of God. This entire experience is a very trying time for Jews. It just did not make any sense, and it seemed as if God would come out at any moment and show himself to the Nazi’s to stop the atrocities in their tracks.
The author describes one of the worst nights of his entire life: “Eliezer! Eiezer! Come, don’t leave me alone…” (xii) He could not forgive himself for not assisting during his father’s beating. His dad was in agony, but Ellie stayed silent in an effort to save his own life. He states that “ That is why I remained deaf to his cries.” Elizer had studied since he was a young boy about the awesome power of God. He continues throughout the entire book to understand what God is and how he can possibly respond to the crisis. Realistically, Ellie was wondering where God was and expected him to come out and save the day.
According to a literary analysis by Hunter Ashton at Helium.com, Elizer began to wonder, “Where is God Now? Where is he?” It seemed that once they were in the concentration camps, the kind of harsh treatment was so unimaginable, that it just did not make any sense. In this literary analysis they go on to suggest that these people, being the Germans, considered themselves God on earth. Why would God allow this to happen, and why would he not save the Jews from persecution?
Robert E. Douglas, in his literary analysis, suggests that “Elie Wiesel has to reevaluate God in his world.” (1) Before the Holocaust, Elie Wiesel was a devout Jewish child. “He began to accuse God of cruelty against his people after experiencing the concentration camps. ” Upon witnessing some of the horrors that were occurring, he began to lose faith in God and what God was all about. Surely God would save these innocent people. This cannot be happening. There was a lot of doubt amongst the people in the concentration camps; they were finding it hard to continue to believe in God. Douglas goes on to write a great analysis which targets very important information that is pertinent to this essay.
The most important thing to be denoted is that Ellie Wiesel had to experience the German’s desire to exterminate all of the Jewish population. This is really not acceptable on this earth and this should never have happened. When Ellie was a young boy, he was learning all of the great things about God. Now it seems as if God has turned his back. Why are the German’s attempting to exterminate an entire population? Is this fair in life?
Ellie experienced the loss of a young boy dying a slow death in the concentration camp. He tells himself that “God is hanging from the gallows as well.” This is something that really none of the inmates can fathom as actually happening. If this God is real, then why would God allow this type of pain, suffering and horridness to take place? This is the struggle of all of the death camp populations. They attempt to believe, however, God has more or less betrayed them.
The holocaust is real, and is should be embedded in the mind’s of all humans. Can you imagine if you were put in this position? What if we came and rounded up your family? How would you feel then? The world has failed the entire populous by not coming to the rescue earlier. Are we that de-sensitized? Do you not feel any pain? Do you have any morals?
In the book, Wiesel describes the entire Universe as a place that “God betrayed his cratures.” This is amazing that the world allowed this to happen. Why did God allow this? Why di the world not come to rescue of these poor innocent souls?
Works Cited:
Wiesel, Ellie “Night” 2006 Edition published by Hill and Wang.
Elie Wiesel, a winner of a Nobel prize, has been through more than any human being should ever have to go through on this earth. In his book “Night” the author, who is a holocaust survivor himself, lays out the horrible terrifying experiences of his family and friends during the period when the Nazi’s exterminated over six million Jews. It is amazing that the world allowed this to happen, and this is a great story which documents some of the horrific acts which took place. In this book, the author explores what God’s role may have been during this time.
Ellie Wiesel found himself struggling with the concept and goodness of God. This entire experience is a very trying time for Jews. It just did not make any sense, and it seemed as if God would come out at any moment and show himself to the Nazi’s to stop the atrocities in their tracks.
The author describes one of the worst nights of his entire life: “Eliezer! Eiezer! Come, don’t leave me alone…” (xii) He could not forgive himself for not assisting during his father’s beating. His dad was in agony, but Ellie stayed silent in an effort to save his own life. He states that “ That is why I remained deaf to his cries.” Elizer had studied since he was a young boy about the awesome power of God. He continues throughout the entire book to understand what God is and how he can possibly respond to the crisis. Realistically, Ellie was wondering where God was and expected him to come out and save the day.
According to a literary analysis by Hunter Ashton at Helium.com, Elizer began to wonder, “Where is God Now? Where is he?” It seemed that once they were in the concentration camps, the kind of harsh treatment was so unimaginable, that it just did not make any sense. In this literary analysis they go on to suggest that these people, being the Germans, considered themselves God on earth. Why would God allow this to happen, and why would he not save the Jews from persecution?
Robert E. Douglas, in his literary analysis, suggests that “Elie Wiesel has to reevaluate God in his world.” (1) Before the Holocaust, Elie Wiesel was a devout Jewish child. “He began to accuse God of cruelty against his people after experiencing the concentration camps. ” Upon witnessing some of the horrors that were occurring, he began to lose faith in God and what God was all about. Surely God would save these innocent people. This cannot be happening. There was a lot of doubt amongst the people in the concentration camps; they were finding it hard to continue to believe in God. Douglas goes on to write a great analysis which targets very important information that is pertinent to this essay.
The most important thing to be denoted is that Ellie Wiesel had to experience the German’s desire to exterminate all of the Jewish population. This is really not acceptable on this earth and this should never have happened. When Ellie was a young boy, he was learning all of the great things about God. Now it seems as if God has turned his back. Why are the German’s attempting to exterminate an entire population? Is this fair in life?
Ellie experienced the loss of a young boy dying a slow death in the concentration camp. He tells himself that “God is hanging from the gallows as well.” This is something that really none of the inmates can fathom as actually happening. If this God is real, then why would God allow this type of pain, suffering and horridness to take place? This is the struggle of all of the death camp populations. They attempt to believe, however, God has more or less betrayed them.
The holocaust is real, and is should be embedded in the mind’s of all humans. Can you imagine if you were put in this position? What if we came and rounded up your family? How would you feel then? The world has failed the entire populous by not coming to the rescue earlier. Are we that de-sensitized? Do you not feel any pain? Do you have any morals?
In the book, Wiesel describes the entire Universe as a place that “God betrayed his cratures.” This is amazing that the world allowed this to happen. Why did God allow this? Why di the world not come to rescue of these poor innocent souls?
Works Cited:
Wiesel, Ellie “Night” 2006 Edition published by Hill and Wang.
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