Conflicts in Night by Elie Wiesel Free Essay Example

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Introduction

The Holocaust happened in the year 1941. By 1945, two-thirds of the Jewish population horrifically vanished. Elie Wiesel was almost 16 years old when he was brought to the Auschwitz concentration camp. Night refers to the darkness of life, mind, and soul experienced by all who suffered in Nazi concentration camps during WWII. In the memoir Night by Elie Wiesel, the main character vs. Nazi’s conflict causes additional character vs. society and character vs. self conflicts which develop throughout the book.

Elie had to deal with the Nazis and this is Elie vs Nazis.

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When the Nazis first came to Elie’s town they were not as bad as the jews thought they would be for instance “German soldiers with their steel helmets and their death’s-head emblem. Still, our first impressions of the Germans were rather reassuring. The officers were billeted in private homes, even in Jewish homes. Their attitude toward their hosts was distant but polite. They never demanded the impossible, made no offensive remarks, and sometimes even smiled at the lady of the house”(Wiesel 9,10).

This quote is saying that the Nazis were nice and not scary but kind but Elie soon saw how things changed for instance “On the seventh day of the Passover, the curtain finally rose: the Germans arrested the leaders of the Jewish community. From that moment on, everything happened very

Elie had to deal with some characters so this is character vs character. Elie had some troubles with Idek that involved his father to get beat.

Elie decided that he was not going to follow Ideas orders and it just so as happens that Elie walks in at the wrong time “When I reached the back of the building, I heard sounds coming from a small adjoining room. I moved closer and had a glimpse of Idek and a young Polish girl, half-naked, on a straw mat. Now I understood why Idek refused to leave us in the camp. He moved one hundred prisoners so that he could copulate with this girl! It struck me as terribly funny and I burst out laughing. Idek jumped, turned, and saw me, while the girl tried to cover her breasts. I wanted to run away, but my feet were nailed to the floor. Idek grabbed me by the throat. Hissing at me, he threatened: “Just you wait, kid . . . you will see what it costs to leave your work . . . You’ll pay for this later . . . And now go back to your place . . .” ”(56, 57). Basically Idek wanted to do things with this girl and so he moved all the prisoners away.

And another instance is when Rabbi Eliahu loses sight of his son “Rabbi Eliahu whispered,” It happened on the road. We lost sight of one another during the journey. I fell behind a little, at the rear of the column. I didn't have the strength to run anymore. And my son didn't notice. That's all I know were has he disappeared? Where can I find him? Perhaps you've seen him somewhere?” “No, Rabbi Eliahu, I haven't seen him.” And so he left, as he had come: a shadow swept away by the wind. He had already gone through the door when I remembered that I had noticed his son running beside me. I had forgotten and so had not mentioned it to Rabbi Eliahu! But then I remembered something else: his son had seen him losing ground, sliding back to the rear of the column. He had seen him. And he had continued to run in front, letting the distance between them become greater.” basically Rabbi Eliahu ditches his father.

Elie had to deal with himself sometimes so this is character vs self. When Elie is running in chapter 6 he has trouble about death. “My father’s presence was the only thing that stopped me. He was running next to me, out of breath, out of strength, desperate. I had no right to let myself die. What would he do without me? I was his sole support.” In this quote, Elie is troubled with the fact that he wants to die he also doesn't want to die because of his father's sake.

Another instance of character vs character is when Elie doesn't want to give up his soup to his father and then regrets having those feelings. “We were given soup. When they allowed us to return to the blocks, I rushed toward my father: “Did you eat?” “No.” “Why?” “They didn't give us anything . . . They said that we were sick, that we would die soon, and that it would be a waste of food . . . I can't go on . . .” I gave him what was left of my soup. But my heart was heavy. I was aware that I was doing it grudgingly. Just like Rabbi Eliahu’s son, I had not passed the test(107). So Elie gets soup and then doesn't want to give it to his father and then he thinks he has betrayed himself.

In the memoir Night by Elie Wiesel, the main character vs. Nazi’s conflict causes additional character vs. society and character vs. self conflicts which develop throughout the book. Elie had to deal with the Nazis and this is Elie vs Nazis. Elie had to deal with some characters so this is character vs character. Elie had to deal with himself sometimes so this is character vs self.