Night: Changes in Elie

  Elie Wiesel goes through drastic changes during his time in the concentration camps. These changes include his relationships, his faith, and the inhumane thoughts that may go through his head. The two that I will focus on is his relationship with his father and his faith in god.

  In the beginning of his story, we learn how devoted he is to his religion. In the first section he states, "During the day I studied the Talmud, and at night, I ran to the synagogue to weep over the destruction of the Temple" (3). This displays the strong relationship he has with god and how much he cares for the religion. He also compares praying to breathing when asked why he prayed. Breathing comes very naturally to us and praying must have come very natural to Elie. He questioned his faith once he experienced the concentration camps. Throughout his time in the camps, terrible things happened. What I noticed is that during certain events, the Jews will say, "Where is God?" They wonder why god would let such horrid things happen, questioning their faith. As time progresses, people lost their faith in god but Elie's case was different. He would have moments where he no longer believed in him but once an inhumane thought crossed Wiesel's mind, he would automatically pray. He questioned god but I don't think that he lost his faith.

  Wiesel's compassion towards his family changed during his time in the concentration camps. When he was separated from his mother and sister, he was devastated, a natural reaction to a separation of a family. Throughout his time there, he states, "From time to time, in the middle of all that talk, a thought crossed my mind: Where is Mother right now...and Tzipora.." At first he was concerned for his other family members and took time to think how they were. He later stopped worrying about the girls but did focus on the survival of both himself and his father. This changed after awhile because family isn't the number one priority for concentration camp victims, but survival. Like one told Elie, "In this place, it is every man for himself, and you cannot think of others. Not even your father." (110) Wiesel realizes that he can only save himself and his priority was surviving, changing how he treated others.