Elie Wiesel’s Night is a captivating memoir that portrays a pure relationship between hope and despair. During the war, Elie’s hometown remained optimistic despite the global misfortune occurring. However, a sharp turning point in the autobiography acknowledges the progression of concern in the community: “ On the seventh day of Passover, the curtain finally rose: the Germans arrested the leaders of the Jewish community… The race toward death had begun.” (10) I was disheartened by my knowledge of their fate, and how it continued undetected until it was too late. It pains me that the human race is repeatedly burdened with this horrific plot, often caused by disbelief or miscommunication. The population was rushed into ghetto’s, but the mentality of the Jewish inhabitants kept the soldiers from gaining full authority: “ The ghetto was ruled by neither German nor Jew; it was ruled by delusion.” (12) I grieve for the people who were too intimidated to run or weren’t able to. It’s unclear whether optimism and faith saved or cost many Jews their lives. Confidence compromised the Jew’s opportunity for escape, but at times their faith was their only source of strength to prevail.
Though the author gives a comprehensive insight into his thoughts, his emotions elude description throughout the narrative. The speed of the novel is rapid, Wiesel keeps description brief, nevertheless, the pain of his words permeated my thoughts. It’s difficult to define if Wiesel, as well as other prisoners, were grasping onto time, or desiring it to be over. I'm saddened by the reality of fleeting time and pressured by my privilege of freedom in the present. This evokes nostalgia and anxiety within me. The tragic journey has me intrigued.
This experience of the Holocaust affect me on an emotional level. Before this experience I did not know much about the Holocaust I just had heard of horrible man named Adolf Hitler and the genocide he had created. After reading the book Night and after the documentaries and films that we watched I've been slapped by reality. I've been dwelling a lot on my own as well, about how people could have so much hatred on the people who are their neighbors. Just ordinary people that have so much hatred. I'm just so confused how people could just back stab their neighbors as soon as a new political party rose. Ordinary people turning into monsters you don't see that everyday. I've taken away so many things from this unit. I think the thing that just draws me the most from in this unit is to never forget. So many innocent people died just because of what they practiced and what they look like. So the least I can do is memorialize them by never forgetting what happened to them....
Ever,
ReplyDeleteI think the people in Elie's town were holding onto their faith in the Germans, since they were being so nice, and some soldiers had even brought chocolate for the Jew hosting them! I can understand why that didn't want to believe or why they wouldn't believe that this could happen to them, but I also wonder if any of them had any kind of gut feeling leading up to the Germans taking them to the camps? And if anyone had a gut feeling that maybe they shouldn't trust the Germans as much as they do, did anyone speak up? I'd like to say that if I were in this story and I had a bad feeling about the Germans, I'd say something, but I honestly think that I would've kept quiet for fear of being seen as the odd one out. What would you do?
I think the second quote you chose is pretty impactful in the sense of it makes you think. But it's very true, because as you said the Jew's mentality made it harder for the Germans to take full control of them, and it's very clear that the Jews didn't much power over themselves let alone anyone or anything else. The being ruled by delusion part comes from both the Jews and the Germans have the delusion of power. The Germans thought they had total control over the Jews, and the Germans did have most control over the Jews. And on the other end, the Jews thought they had at least a little bit of control over themselves. Overall I think you did an awesome job! You really expressed how it made you feel and gave some background on why! Great job! :)
Ever,
ReplyDeleteI really like your choice of words in describing your feelings and thoughts. Though, I see where you are coming from when you said, " description is brief," but I would have to disagree. From my perspective, Wiesel did include details and a lengthy description in some parts of the memoir. For instance, Elie told us all about the cattle cars (train) and Mrs. Schachter and the fire that she described.
If possible, could you elaborate on the sentence about the description?