Elie Wiesel Reflection

Life is all about finding a balance, to get what you need, perhaps in sacrifice of what you want. Thus, history has its reckless balance of tragedy and hope through varying events; testing the strength of humanity in the face of adversity. In “Night” by Elie Wiesel, we get to glimpse the horrors of the Holocaust through the recollections of a survivor. Elie provides us with an emotional recount of his experience, enabling his readers to comprehend the devastating repercussions of this event vicariously. We read as families get ripped apart and demoralized victims lose their faith. On pages 90-91, he uses diction, metaphors, and imagery to emphasize the theme that ultimately, the only bonds you are guaranteed are your family’s.

Elie first utilizes imagery to enhance your understanding of his situation and ground you in a realistic setting. In one instance; a fellow inmate, Rabbi Eliahu, had lost sight of his son in one of the marches. As Elie described him, “An old man appeared. His mustache was covered in ice, his lips were blue.” (pg 90). By defining him primarily as old, we can gauge that he is likely a worn and fragile man. Next, we can infer that he the Rabbi is suffering from over-exposure to the cold as sourced by the discoloration of his lips and the formation of icicles in his mustache. The Rabbi subjected himself to the cold for much longer than necessary in an attempt to locate his son, disregarding his own health for the safety of his son. His paternal instincts