Night by Elie Wiesel
Summary:
In the year 1944, Germany has begun to lose the second world war. Caught up in the middle of it is Eliezer Wiesel and his family. The German forces enter his city and slowly begin to divide up and racially distinguish the Jews. After a few weeks of this, the Jews, including the Wiesel family, are rounded up and taken to an unknown. After some time, it is revealed that they have been taken to the infamous death camp, Auschwitz. There, Eliezer is separated from his mom and sisters. He is left only with his father, now they must survive until the war inevitably ends with Germany's defeat. Eliezer and his father are soon moved to a different death camp. And then a different one. They continue to change death camps due to the Russians moving the front closer and closer to the Jew's liberation. In each camp, Eliezer struggles to sustain his health and take care of his father. He ultimately chooses his father every time the option presented itself. All the way up to his father's death. Five months after his father's death, Eliezer and all the other prisons of Buchenwald are freed.
Major Themes:
Racism: Eliezer and his family are sought out due to their race and religion. They aren't judged as people, but as a subspecies. This is the main factor that moves the novel forward.
Love: This emotion is the only thing that keeps Eliezer alive. If he didn't love his dad and run off the strength it gave him, he would have died in those camps.
Survival: After the death of Eliezer's father, all he focuses on his own survival. He lost everything he ever loved, now he just lived to survive. Even his dreams revolved around survival since he frequently dreamed of extra soup rations.
Favorite Quote:
"'Let them know that here lived men and not pigs."'
Strange this line came from a concentration camp worker who murdered these people like animals. They had no regard for their wellbeing and would make sport out of killing as many of their infants as possible. They saw themselves as superior to these people in everyway, even though the Jews actually contributed to their society and challenged themselves to fill trades in the economy. They were some of the best people to have in a country since their religion is so strict they don't get drunk often which means they get into less trouble.
In the year 1944, Germany has begun to lose the second world war. Caught up in the middle of it is Eliezer Wiesel and his family. The German forces enter his city and slowly begin to divide up and racially distinguish the Jews. After a few weeks of this, the Jews, including the Wiesel family, are rounded up and taken to an unknown. After some time, it is revealed that they have been taken to the infamous death camp, Auschwitz. There, Eliezer is separated from his mom and sisters. He is left only with his father, now they must survive until the war inevitably ends with Germany's defeat. Eliezer and his father are soon moved to a different death camp. And then a different one. They continue to change death camps due to the Russians moving the front closer and closer to the Jew's liberation. In each camp, Eliezer struggles to sustain his health and take care of his father. He ultimately chooses his father every time the option presented itself. All the way up to his father's death. Five months after his father's death, Eliezer and all the other prisons of Buchenwald are freed.
Major Themes:
Racism: Eliezer and his family are sought out due to their race and religion. They aren't judged as people, but as a subspecies. This is the main factor that moves the novel forward.
Love: This emotion is the only thing that keeps Eliezer alive. If he didn't love his dad and run off the strength it gave him, he would have died in those camps.
Survival: After the death of Eliezer's father, all he focuses on his own survival. He lost everything he ever loved, now he just lived to survive. Even his dreams revolved around survival since he frequently dreamed of extra soup rations.
Favorite Quote:
"'Let them know that here lived men and not pigs."'
Strange this line came from a concentration camp worker who murdered these people like animals. They had no regard for their wellbeing and would make sport out of killing as many of their infants as possible. They saw themselves as superior to these people in everyway, even though the Jews actually contributed to their society and challenged themselves to fill trades in the economy. They were some of the best people to have in a country since their religion is so strict they don't get drunk often which means they get into less trouble.
Photo used under Creative Commons from Grace Courbis