Night

                                                                                   

                                                                                                            Lauren Hogler

                                                                                                            English 10 Period 4

                                                                                                            March 31, 2004

            Elie Weizel’s novel, Night, is about his hardships and experiences while living in several concentration camps during World War II.  The word “night” is a very significant one in his life, because ever since he first set foot in a concentration camp, his life became one long night.  “Night” is a motif in the story, it can mean many things and is used in different ways throughout the book to describe situations, people, his feelings, or actual night.

            According to Weizel, “night” could describe just about any situation that happened during his time in concentration camps, and even after he was freed.  Night is a metaphor for his entire life after being sent to the camps.  “Never shall I forget that night, the first night in the camp, which has turned my life into one long night…Never shall I forget those flames that consumed my faith forever” (pg. 32) are quotes from the book, in which he is describing his first day at Birkenau, after witnessing children and babies being burned in pits.  Soon thereafter, he would not allow himself to have feelings.  He became numb and just felt dark and cold inside, he could only think about himself in order to survive, and everyone else was the same way. 

            People who were sent to concentration camps were probably constantly filled with fear of death or pain, or being separated from family and friends.  They too went through the feelings of life being one long night, not being able to tell what day it was, not knowing where their families are, or if they were even alive anymore. 

            Winter months at the camps were by far the hardest of all.  Temperatures were frigid, people did not get enough to eat, and did not have proper clothing.  “The days were short, and the nights had become almost unbearable.” (pg. 73) Again, Weizel uses the word night, but to describe actual night. 
            Night will always be in Elie Weizel’s mind because of the tragic things he had to go through, just because of his religion.  He will forever have to live with the memories of life in concentration camps, and the long night that his life became.