Night Chapters 7-9 Prompt 3

The events in Night express what happens when people lose compassion for their fellow man. For example, when a Parisian lady threw coins to the natives, there were "two children desperately fighting in the water, one trying to strangle the other" (Wiesel 100). This shows how two children were willing to kill, just for a bit of money so they could survive. It displays how even children will fight to the death if that means that they will survive. In addition, when bread landed in the wagon "a battle had ensued. Men were hurling themselves against each other, trampling, tearing at and mauling each other. Beasts of prey unleashed, animal hate in their eyes. An extraordinary vitality possessed them, sharpening their teeth and nails" (Wiesel 101). This displays how the men would do absolutely anything they could to survive, even if it meant using every last bit of strength to defeat their fellow man. These actions express how when people lose compassion, they are willing to kill their fellow man. Elie Wiesel expresses what happens when people lose compassion for their fellow man. 

In this memoir, the author displays how people betray their loved ones when compassion is lost. For instance, when one of the men was able to obtain a crust of bread, "a shadow had laid down beside him. And this shadow threw itself over him" and he was beaten by his own son. This shows how a son is willing to betray his own father to survive because he lost all his compassion during the events of the war. It expresses how one willing to do whatever is necessary in order to survive, including killing their own flesh and blood. Furthermore, when he woke up after the first night there, "a thought crept into [his] mind: if only [he] didn't find him! If only [he] were relieved of this responsibility, [he] could use all [his] strength to fight for [his] own survival, to take care only of [him]self" (Wiesel 106). This shows how Elie was thinking how the rabbi's son was thinking, and was almost relieved by the possibility of his father's death. This expresses how when people lose compassion, they will lose all of their love and even personality of who they really are. Elie Wiesel displays how people will betray their loved ones when they lose compassion for their fellow man.