Reflections On Night By Elie Wiesel

Genocide: The slaughter of an entire race of people. How could the inhumane murders of millions of people bring anything positive to the world? In the book Night by Elie Wiesel, he tells the graphic story of his life during the Holocaust. I believe that reading Night could have multiple positive impacts.

To begin with, Night can educate students on the real story of the Holocaust. For example, the book can increase the connectivity between the Holocaust and the students own emotions. Wiesel’s writing style personally immersed me in the story. I felt myself in his shoes in a way that I finally comprehended the feelings of Jewish people in the Holocaust. Another example is that the book tells the details on the inhumane treatment that Jews were put through. Unlike The Diary of Anne Frank, which only shows her being trapped in a small house, Night shows Elie’s thoughts throughout the

time before the murders, and includes his tellings of the death camps. There is no sugar coating in the story, which is exactly what students need to really understand the severity of the situation. Similarly, the reality of the world is shown in this book. There are humans out there that are capable of killing other humans, from infants to the elderly. It’s hard to fathom how people could be filled with such hatred, but they are out there. The world is not sunshines and rainbows, and students need to be ready. Altogether, Night can educate students by increasing comprehension and showing the gritty reality of both the Holocaust, and the world in general.
In addition to the education of students, everyday life could be affected after reading Night.

A reason for that is because the narration from Wiesel gives empathy. He gives humanity to Jewish people. I feel it is hard for people to completely understand the feelings of Jewish people, but Night bridges the gap. In the same way, reading Night insures that the future will stop repeating itself. The fear that grips at Elie throughout the story is because of other humans. Humanity as a whole can stop hurting each over once they understand that the people around them are human, no matter how different they are. Furthermore, the book could cause a change in attitude. People often take the things they have for granted. After reading Night, it will remind people that their lives are incredibly privileged. Everything they have is a gift, because not everyone is able to live a happy life. In short, the day-to-day lives of the readers are affected by reading Night because it gives empathy, stops history from repeating itself again, and reminds everyone of how lucky they are to be living in

peace.
To sum everything up, there are many benefits given by reading Night. The book not only educates students in school many ways, but impacts the future as well. The positive impacts on society outweigh the negative feelings the book can give. I think that even in dire situations, there could be a positive silver lining.