Night Chapters 1-2 Prompt 10

Night by Elie Wiesel is an interesting memoir, containing many moving messages. For example, when Elie was awakening people of the ghetto, one of his father's friends "...got out of bed and began to dress, automatically. Then he went over to the bed where his wife lay sleeping and with infinite tenderness touched her forehead. She opened her eyes and it seemed to me that a smile crossed her lips. Then he went to wake his two children. They woke with a start, torn from their dreams" (Wiesel 15). This truly displays the love of a couple, the way he wakes her ever so carefully so as to disturb her as little as possible. Also, in the way she smiles when she awakes to see him there next to her, how they seem to have an unspoken communication. This expresses how love between two people can show itself in the smallest of actions, because of the true appreciation of one another. Furthermore, when Elie's family had just settled into their new home in the smaller ghetto, his mother kept repeating "We cannot give up. We cannot give up" (Wieser 20). This shows Elie's mother's immense perseverance, because of her refusal to back down, even when she had so many factors against her. This displays how when it is necessary some people can step up by giving others so much of their strength that they are completely exhausted, yet they still persevere. A variety of powerful messages is demonstrated in this memoir. 

In Night, the author expresses interesting observations on humanity. For instance, when groups of people were moved to the second ghetto, "People rather got along. There no longer was any distinction between rich and poor, notables and the others; we were all people condemned to the same fate—still unknown" (Wieser 21). This shows how they were all equal after all of their money and objects with monetary value were gone. It reveals how everyone is equal when it comes down to the basic qualities. Also, the people in that ghetto were faced with the same fate, just as all of humanity is with death which further proves the equality. In addition, when Mrs, Schächter was screaming on the train, eventually everyone's "...terror could no longer be contained. [Their] nerves had reached a breaking point. [Their] very skin was aching. It was as though madness had infected all of [them]. [They] gave up" (Wieser 26). This shows how under such stressful conditions, they all eventually are driven to a point where they can no longer take it. This situation exemplifies how people can only handle so many problems and negativity. At one point they might finally crack, which could very well mean them going insane. Elie Wieser reveals some insight on humanity through his memoir, Night.