Johnson 1

Emily Johnson

Mr. Bigelow

English 10

05/17/16

Night

When people must face the most unimaginably terrible events, people grow very close to

each other. Sometimes these relationships become so important that they are what keep each

other alive. In literature, characters are put through incredibly difficult trials; relationships with

other people are the only thing that keeps them going. The book Night, by Elie Wiesel

demonstrates how much relationships are strengthened in dire circumstances and how important

others become in ones own survival. Before Elie and his father are deported, they do not have a

strong emotional connection. After enduring a few grueling months at Auschwitz, Elies father

becomes so important that he is the only thing that Elie is living for. Elie Wiesels relationship

with his father teaches that sometimes the only thing that matters is someone elses life.

Before Elie and his father are deported to Auschwitz, they are not very close. When Elie

and his father are sent to Auschwitz, Elie and his father become very close. In the beginning of

the book, Elie explains to his father: MY father was a cultured man, rather unsentimental. He

rarely displayed his feelings, not even within his family, and was more involved with the welfare

of others than with that of his own kin (Wiesel 4). WHen Elie and his father are sent to

Auschwitz, they almost immediately become inseparable: There was no time to think, and I

already felt my fathers hand press against mine...all I could think of was not to lose him. Not to

remain alone (Wiesel 29-30). When Elie and his father are on the train to Buchenwald, Elie
 Johnson 2

thinks his father has died: Suddenly, the evidence overwhelmed me: there was no longer any

reason to live (99). By analyzing Elies description of his father above, it is fair to say that Elie

was not close to his father. THe fact that he says that he didnt even display his feelings with his

family shows that his relationships with his family were no more important than those with

others. Another thing that ELie says that shows how distant his father was that he was more

involved in serving others than his own family. For most people, their relationship with their

family is above others, so this definitely shows how disconnected Elies father was. The fact that

Elies father grabbed his hand so instinctively right as they were being sorted before entering the

camp shows a significant change in their relationship. From this, it can be assumed that Elie and

his father will be inseparable. Elie and his fathers relationship becomes so strong that when Elie

think his father dies, he doesnt have a reason to go on. This shows how significant their

relationship becomes because Elies father becomes his life.

Elies relationship with his father teaches that sometimes the only way to survive is to

keep someone else alive. When the people in the camp are given rations, Elie gives his ration to

his father. When Elie thinks his father has died on the way to Buchenwald, he has this response,

Since my fathers death, nothing mattered to me anymore (113). This shows how Elies

fathers life becomes more important than his own because he gives up his food even though he

is probably starving. This is significant because Elie could die by giving up his food. Elies

reaction to his fathers death shows how important his life was to him. Elie expresses that he had

no purpose after his fathers death. The only reason Elie was alive was that his father was alive.

Elies relationship with his father in the beginning is weak. When Elie and his father are

sent to Auschwitz, Elies father becomes the most important thing in his life because he is his

purpose. Elies relationship with his father shows how sometimes someone elses life becomes
 Johnson 3

more significant that ones own life. He shows this by giving up all his rations to his father and

losing all purpose after his fathers death