Joshua+Gause

Character Evolution [|O_o]

Night Essay Joshua Gause

World Literature

November 25, 2011

Mysterious Behavior

Did Elie abandoned his father? Until the truth to be told, Elie did abandoned his father later on in

Auschwitz. However Elie did help his father(Shlomo)earlier; staying by Shlomo's side until death.

Elie, a holocaust survivor, was captured along with his family and was divided up to Elie and his

father. Elie and Shlomo had to suffer the brutal camp of Auschwitz together. Unfortunately, Shlomo

caught dysentery, and later on dies due to Eliezer ignorance. Although when prisoners try to get rid of

Shlomo, Elie stands right by his father's side. Eliezer Wiesel (the author of “NIGHT”) supports his

father earlier in the story, yet later on Elie abandoned his father with no doubt. Clues to believe that Elie

abandoned his father only because Elie ignored his father after Shlomo begs for water; along with Elie

feeling no guilt after his father's death near the end of “NIGHT”. Yet its hard to say Elie truly

abandoned Shlomo after Elie protects his dad from Auschwitz's prisoners with verbal threats, and

attempts to give his father some help all before Elie intentions changed.

Elie really abandoned his father especially when times were getting hard and inextricable. Eliezer

abandoned his father boldly as father begs for water. Elie was getting called apon by his dad to go fetch

and deliver some water. Shlomo was suffering from dysentery and Shlomo really needed some help to

survive with Elie. Shlomo was slowly dying day by day and was lacking help from Elie who truly

believed Shlomo will eventually die; so Elie ignores his father. “Eliezer” continued my father,

“water...” “The officer came closer and shouted to him to be silent. But my father did not hear. He

continued to call me. The officer wielded his club and dealt him a violent blow to the head. I didn't

move”(111). Basically this quote is saying Elie abandoned his father when his father needed him the

most. Shlomo constantly begs for water as Eliezer ignores him. Elie left his father to be dehydrated

and die.

In fact Elie tried so hard to stay with his father, yet reality made Elie leave his father for Elie's

survival. Elie felt no sorrow after his father's death; instead he felt free at last. Elie felt a lot of stress

from his father suffering from dysentery. Shlomo faced many problems of being sick which reflected

on Elie, and later on Elie feels free after his father's death. “I did not weep, and it pained me that I

could not weep. But I was out of tears. And deep inside me if I could have searched recesses of my

feeble conscience, I might of found something like free at last!”(112). In other words Elie believed it

was best to leave his father to ease stress away. Elie the son of Shlomo left his father for his own good;

which shows Elie straight-up abandoned his father.

Conversely Elie abandons his father during the most treacherous times Elie helped his father out;

especially when Eliezer father Shlomo was infected with dysentery, and was given a hard time by

prisoners. Elie did subsidize his father sometimes. Elie even insulted his father's enemies for protection.

Shlomo later on caught dysentery in Auschwitz(a concentration camp). For this reason prisoners reject

Shlomo and beat him in hopes of Shlomo dying quicker. “Eliezer...Eliezer....tell them not to beat me...I

haven't done anything...Why are they beating me? I began to insult his neighbor”(109). Those words

spoken clearly state that Elie standed up for Shlomo who was sick and couldn't defend himself. As Elie

steps in to protect Shlomo it's a great benefit to Shlomo. Furthermore Elie did attempt to protect his

father in the most harsh times. All in all Elie mentally insulted Shlomo's enemies to protect his father

he cared for. Which represents Elie early on didn't abandoned his father.

In addition Elie always loved his father and always tried to help Shlomo. Elie even attempted to

retrieve some medical help for his father. While Elie and Shlomo work in Auschwitz Shlomo is sick.

Elie was concern, so later on Elie tells a surgeon who doesn't help Shlomo in anyway. “My father is

sick' I answered in his place...Dysentery...” “That's not my business. I'm a surgeon. Go on make room

for the others! My protest were in vain”(108-109). Elie tried so hard to help his father out when his

father was sick. Although after his protests were in vain to help Shlomo Elie tried no matter what.

Therefore Elie was attempted to give his father some help truly shows he loved his father and tried to

prolong his only family member's life.

In the same way Elie truly did stick by his father's side, although there where times when Elie left

his father in pure ignorance. Elie has made many choices to protect his father, yet later on his father is

ignored. Its hard to tell what Elie's true motives are of his father based off the actions Elie made.

Eliezer Wiesel ignores, and felt relived about his ignorance later in the Holocaust. Eventhough earlier

in the story, Elie insults prisoners along with the attempt to get medical help all for his father. Leading

to believe Elie Wiesel(the author of night) stuck by his father's side,yet later on in Birkneau-Auschwitz.

Elie boldly abandoned Shlomo! ssay