Examples Of Identity In Night By Elie Wiesel

One reoccurring theme that is present in the Holocaust is a change of identity with everyone involved. The incidents people confronted, especially the Jews, during this harsh time was life changing and traumatic. The identity of many in the concentration camps changed; young and innocent children developed into mature men. Elie Wiesel in the novella, Night, faces a change of identity within himself and the surrounding people, the Jews, through a variety of events that he encounters. The identity change for many Jews began in the events leading to the concentration camps and upon entering the concentration camps. For example, the instant the Jews were seized by the Hungarian police, “every Jew had to wear the yellow star,” making it known to others of their Jewish faith. (Wiesel 11). This star did not necessarily give them a new identity, but instead singled out all Jews. In addition, once in the concentration camp Eliezer, “became

To illustrate, a change of identity occurs, “If only [Eliezer] were relieved of this responsibility… Instantly, [he] felt ashamed, ashamed of [himself] forever,” when he almost tried to leave his father alone (106). Elie faces a permanent change of identity when he strays away from his old educated habits and becomes a selfish creature when going through pain. Another example of a change of identity within Elie is when his father dies, “And deep inside [him], if [he] could have searched the recesses of [his] feeble conscience, [he] might have found something like: Free at Last!” expressing that his father’s death finally freed him, out of the misery, out of the agony (112). Eliezer’s journey with his father through the excruciating concentration camps developed him from an innocent teenager to a mature man with the capabilities to succeed in unbearable situations. Thus, Wiesel’s identity changed drastically throughout the progression of the