Night+Essay

Luis Moreno  World Literature  November 7, 2011  Everlasting Love  Have you ever thought what it means to be human? During the holocaust, Jews were forced to do anything in their will, if they wanted to survive. Because of the lack of food and water many Jewish prisoners were brought to a very hostile state of mind. Jewish prisoners would do anything to survive, but not Elie Wiesel. Elie Wiesel, a former Jewish survivor of the holocaust, experienced a father to son bond. In the Novel “Night”, Elie Wiesel a Jewish prisoner and author avoided abandoning his father. In harsh events that occurred in the camp, Elie didn’t give up on his father. Elie was lucky to have saved his dad from dying unknowingly. Throughout the horror, Elie helped his dad because he didn’t want to lose him.  Obviously, every prisoner suffered in the concentration camp. Most of the time, Elie looked out for his father. The train ride to a new camp seemed to be an unimaginable experience. Everybody looking out for their family would try to repel the fear of having to lose one of their loved ones. “Father! Father! Wake up. They’re going to throw you outside…”(99). In other words, Elie believed that if he lost his father then he would have nothing left to live for. If Mr. Wiesel was to die then Elie’s life would have been shattered. Elie helped his dad by not avoiding his situation.  Of course Elie isn’t the only one who is looked out for. Before leaving to work, Mr. Wiesel tried leaving his son’s earnings. Elie refused to take the spoon and knife and talked him out of this crazy talk. “I don’t want you to say such things. Keep the spoon and knife. You will need them as much as I. We’ll see each other tonight after work”(75). Basically, Elie is saying that he wanted his dad to keep his things because he doesn’t want to hear silly non-sense. Elie thought that his dad had given up and convinced him that he will come back alive. Even through the brink of time, Elie convinced his father that he still had a son to take care of. Finally to be sure, Elie watched over his father’s well being and health. The tortured walks from one camp to the other left many prisoners’ in bad conditions. The long journey seemed to take its toll on all of the prisoners. “Come, father let’s go back to the shed… You’ll be able to lie down. We’ll look after each other”(89). Elie’s point is that he wanted his dad to rest so that he won’t continue feeling pain. Mr. Wiesel had a son who could be generous even in devastating times. Elie’s interest in his father’s health seemed to show that Elie still needs his father.  In conclusion, Elie experienced many horrific events during his life. Elie seemed to have moments in which he showed love towards his father. The train ride that could have ended Elie’s life never occurred because Elie didn’t want his dad to leave his side. After Mr. Wiesel’s surprising speech, Elie convinced his dad to keep his spoon and knife. In Mr. Wiesel’s condition, Elie was right to have helped him. The holocaust was designed to eliminate Jews and break them down one by one; emotionally and physically, Elie proved them wrong by not abandoning his father.