Essay On Symbolism In Night By Elie Wiesel

397 Words2 Pages

The use of symbolism in literary writing is essential. In this case, Wiesel uses the symbolism of “night” to strengthen his novel Night. He uses the significance of “night” to address the turning point for Elie, to show important events that occur during the night and to emphasize the importance of his life span.

First, “night” addresses the turning point for Eliezer. When Elie arrives at Auschwitz, “[he] did see this, with [his] own eyes...children thrown into the flames” (Wiesel 32). Elie witnesses the dark flames that are produced from the killings of innocent Jews. He could not believe he was set in a world where such cruelty took place. Elie changes from a young and innocent boy to a heartless man. The symbol “night” is significant because …show more content…

So many events take place during the night that Elie could not keep up on what happens all at once. For instance, when all the Jews are ordered to be sent to the camps, it all happens in the matter of a horrid night. Another example is when Elie and other Jews march through long, cold nights. Once winter arrived, “The days became short and the nights almost unbearable” (77). During these days, Elie and his father are situated in intolerable conditions. One unforgettable event is when Mr. Weisel dies during this time. The symbol “night” is used to show the importance of events that take place during harsh nights.

Finally, Wiesel uses “night” to emphasize the importance of his life span. As Elie says himself, “Once more, the last night. The last night at home, the last night in the ghetto, the last night in the cattle car, and, now, the last night in Buna. How much longer would our lives be lived from the one “last night” to the next” (83)? Elie questions how long his and the rest of peoples’ lives would last from one night to the other. From this quote, Wiesel shows the significance of “night” in the novel.

In conclusion, the symbol of “night” is used to reveal the challenge Jews encountered during the Holocaust. Throughout the novel, Elie confronts turning points, many occurrences in which he struggled and his questioning about his life

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