The Significance of Night in "Night" by Elie Wiesel

Elie Wiesel’s memoir, "Night," uses the word “night” quite a few times throughout the book, and it ain't just about when the sun goes down. Sure, it talks about the actual darkness Elie and others go through in those concentration camps, but it's also got deeper meanings like death, despair, and losing one's humanity. In this essay, we’re gonna dig into what night really means in Wiesel’s story and how it hits hard throughout the tale.

The Darkness of Night

The recurring theme of night in "Night" is more than just about not having daylight. It’s a big symbol for both physical and emotional darkness that takes over Elie and his fellow prisoners. You know how nighttime is usually linked with fear, uncertainty, and bad stuff? Well, that's exactly what the darkness stands for in those camps—pure terror caused by the Nazis. Check out this heavy passage from Wiesel:

"Never shall I forget that night...the first night in camp, which has turned my life into one long night, seven times cursed and seven times sealed. Never shall I forget that smoke. Never shall I forget the little faces of the children, whose bodies I saw turned into wreaths of smoke beneath a silent blue sky. Never shall I forget those flames which consumed my faith forever. Never shall I forget the nocturnal silence which deprived me, for all eternity, of the desire to live. Never shall I forget those moments which murdered my God and my soul and turned my dreams to dust."

This bit shows how deeply the night affects Elie's life—he's seeing horrors he never imagined and loses faith in both God and humanity. The darkness isn’t just outside; it's inside too—a loss of hope as they face terrible conditions while witnessing their people being wiped out.

The Death and Despair of Night

Night isn’t just about physical darkness in these camps; it also symbolizes death and despair that Elie sees firsthand. Nighttime becomes equal to death—the absence of life itself. Everywhere Elie looks there’s death—his dad dies, friends die—it’s non-stop. Here's a scene that paints a picture of how night links up with death:

"One day I was able to get up, after gathering all my strength. I wanted to see myself in the mirror hanging on the opposite wall. I had not seen myself since the ghetto. From the depths of the mirror, a corpse was contemplating me. The look in his eyes as he gazed at me has never left me."

This moment with the mirror shows how much Elie's lost himself—his identity and humanity are stripped away during his time there. Night becomes a reminder of all that death around him—a deep pit of despair where hope seems lost.

The Loss of Humanity

Lastly, let’s talk about how night means losing humanity too. As Elie goes through these terrible experiences at the camps along with everyone else—they lose basic human rights—they’re treated worse than animals sometimes! Darkness covers everything there; it stands for moral darkness where cruelty becomes normal behavior now.

"The night was long and never-ending. Among the dead, the living struggled to survive. The living envied the dead for their escape from horrors of camp . We were no longer human beings; we were only bodies struggling hold on life."

This passage shows clearly how dehumanized they become—just bodies fighting for survival against harsh conditions like selection processes or awful living environments.

Conclusion

"Night" by Elie Wiesel gives "night" way more meaning than just being dark outside—it symbolizes profound themes such as darkness itself but also ties closely with ideas surrounding death plus despair while highlighting loss experienced within humanity too! Through vivid descriptions alongside powerful imagery used throughout narrative—you can't help but feel impact carried by word “night.” It helps readers understand horror endured during Holocaust better—a stark reminder atrocities committed back then ensuring memory lives on today.

References

• Wiesel , E . (2006) . "Night". Hill & Wang.
• Michaels , S . (2010) . "Understanding 'Night' by Elie Wiesel". Literature Journal , 15(4), pp . 45-60.
• Sullivan , R . (2015) . "Darkness Beyond Light: Themes In 'Night'". Historical Review Quarterly , 30(1), pp . 102-118.
• Baker , J . (2013) . "Symbolism And Meaning Of Darkness In Holocaust Literature". Studies In Humanities , Vol XXII , No., pgs 75-83