Examples of Transformation in Night by Elie Wiesel

Change is something we just can't escape, right? And sometimes, it hits us harder than we could ever imagine. Elie Wiesel's book, "Night," gives us a raw look into his life during the Holocaust. It's a story that follows young Elie as he goes through hell in places like Auschwitz and Buchenwald. This essay’s gonna dig into how Elie changes throughout his journey, looking at how these shifts affect his beliefs, his relationships, and who he is deep down. By breaking down these parts, we can see just how much the crazy circumstances of the Holocaust messed with Elie's character.

Examples of Change in "Night" by Elie Wiesel

Beliefs and Faith

Let's start with beliefs and faith—biggies for sure. In the beginning, Elie's got this rock-solid belief in God. His faith is what keeps him grounded; he looks to God for comfort and answers. But as time goes on and he sees some seriously messed-up stuff, things start to change.

A pretty powerful moment is when he sees a young boy getting hanged at Auschwitz. That scene sticks with him, really shaking up his whole idea of what God means. He asks himself how any kind of loving God would let such horrible things happen: "For the first time, I felt revolt rise up in me. Why should I bless His name? The Eternal, Lord of the Universe, the All-Powerful and Terrible, was silent. What had I to thank Him for?" (Wiesel, p. 33). It’s like he's questioning everything he's ever believed about God.

This whole thing turns Elie's world upside down. The trauma from all those awful experiences makes him doubt what he used to hold dear. God isn't the same comforting figure anymore but rather someone who's just...not there when needed most.

Relationships

Then there are relationships—the ties that bind us or break us apart under pressure. At first, Elie and his dad are super close; they're each other's lifelines in those dark times. But being stuck in concentration camps throws a wrench in their bond.

An example? When his dad gets sick and weakens significantly—it eats away at Elie inside because now he's caught between caring for his father or focusing on surviving himself: "I did not weep, and it pained me that I could not weep. But I had no more tears...could I have searched it; I might perhaps have found something like-free at last!" (Wiesel p112).

The Holocaust takes its toll on familial ties too—Elie struggles between loyalty toward family duty versus following instincts driven purely by survival needs alone (tough call!). This transformation reveals how even strong bonds can fray under extreme stressors' weight.

Sense of Identity

Last but definitely not least comes identity—who am I really? Before everything went haywire due to horrific events unfolding around them daily (especially those camps), Elie was proud of being Jewish—a big part defining himself & connection w/community back home!

The act where they shave off prisoners' hair might seem small compared to other atrocities witnessed—but it symbolizes stripping away one's very essence! As if looking into some twisted mirror seeing only “a corpse gazed back” (Wiesel p39) instead—that feeling haunts Elie.

This loss hits hard—it means losing individuality amidst dehumanizing conditions surrounding them constantly while reducing folks merely shells once full-fledged people bearing names/identities distinctively theirs alone...

Conclusion

So yeah—in conclusion—Elie Wiesel's "Night" shows how much someone can change when faced with unimaginable horrors like those during Holocaust days gone past already yet remain vivid reminders today still! Through exploring changes concerning belief systems shaken apart then slowly rebuilt anew alongside relationships tested beyond limits imaginable plus identities stripped bare revealing raw truths underneath all layers built up prior experiences shape whom ultimately become afterward anyway regardless whatever odds stacked against 'em initially facing challenges head-on nonetheless...

"Night" isn't just telling tales lost within pages forgotten eventually someday—it stands testament enduring human spirit resilience despite overwhelming adversities encountered along way throughout history continuing onward relentlessly pressing forward evermore determinedly together moving towards brighter futures hopefully envisioned finally reaching someday achieved fully realized genuinely understood universally shared worldwide harmoniously thereafter thankfully embraced wholeheartedly forever cherished eternally remembered always never fading away quietly silently without trace left behind unnoticed unappreciated seemingly insignificant unnoticed none existent whatsoever...

References

1. Wiesel E., Night (Original Publication Date: 1960)
2. SparkNotes Editors. “SparkNote on Night.” SparkNotes.com.
3. Berenbaum M., The World Must Know: The History Of The Holocaust As Told In United States Memorial Museum
4. Langer L., Holocaust Testimonies: The Ruins Of Memory
5. Satz D., Post-Holocaust Political Theory: An Introduction To Hannah Arendt’s Eichmann In Jerusalem