Solitary Suffering In Eliezer Wiesel's Night

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Solitary Suffering In Eliezer Wiesel's book Night, he uses the relationship between fathers and sons to show how distress can encourage solidarity under the right circumstances. The book follows Elie and his father as they try to survive during one of the most horrific events in history. The Holocaust challenged a lot of people's faith, not only in their world leaders, but in religion. During this time, the Jewish people suffered greatly and were treated inhumanely. The dehumanization strategies of the camp were successful in making the prisoners look and feel like animals, but also changing their values and priorities to only care for themselves. When basic needs have not been met, the obligation to care for the family diminishes. As Elie is forced to run, …show more content…

While resting Elie is approached by the Rabbi asking if he had seen his son. After he denies it, Eliezer remembers he had seen the son leave him behind, where he begins to contemplate, “What if he wanted to be rid of his father? He had felt his father growing weaker and, believing that the end was near, had thought by this separation to free himself of a burden that could diminish his own chance for survival.” Rabbi Eliahu’s son left him as soon as he saw his own father growing weaker. Having had issues with faith throughout the book, Elie prays nonetheless to God for strength. Not physical strength, but to be patient with his father and continue caring for him in distress. Rabbi Eliahu’s son, similar to Elie, has begun feeling the toll of having to take care of someone when they themselves have not had their basic needs met. Seeing this, Elie addresses his own thoughts. It was not the first time he had considered leaving his father. On those occasions, he has always repressed the thoughts. However, nearing the end of the book, Eliezer's father has become terribly ill. After no doctors try to cure him he stays in bed begging for Eliezer to help

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