Alison Stefansic

H Adv Composition/4th period

Mrs. Tatum

December 15, 2018

Night Chapters 1-3

4. In the beginning of the novel, Wiesel is very religious and strong in his faith of Judaism. He doesn’t

doubt God’s actions or plans with him in the future. When asked why he believes in God, Wiesel cannot

answer properly to why he does. Wiesel isn’t the only one who feels this way. The rabbis said, “Nothing

will happen to us, for God needs us” when news of the Nazi’s punishments spread throughout the town

(Wiesel 12). His uncertainty is representative to how strong his belief is despite not knowing the

answers to these kinds of questions. Throughout the novel, Wiesel slowly begins to doubt his faith as he

spectates God that is punishing the Jewish people. Wiesel’s thoughts along his journey to Auschwitz

show the change in his perspectives and beliefs across the theme of his religious agony. He begins to

characterize God as a protector then shifts to view Him as a punisher.

7. When a decree is issued stating that all Jews must wear a yellow star on their clothing, Elie’s father

downplays the situation by saying, “The yellow star? So what? It’s not lethal?” (Wiesel 14). This is an

ironic statement because the yellow star eventually leads to their deportation to the ghettos. While

many saw the edict as being insignificant to their lives, the Jewish star turns out to be a key factor to

their fate. Nazis began to quickly recognize Jewish individuals and collect them for the concentration

camps and suffering.

11. In chapter 1 of Night, there were multiple opportunities for the Wiesel family to escape deportation.

In one situation, Moishe the Beatle returns after surviving the Nazi firing squad and tries to get the

Wiesel family to move to Palestine with him. However, the townspeople “took him as a madman” who is

“searching for pity” (Wiesel 5). After Elie’s father refuses to move due to his old age, the Wiesel family

decide to stay. Another situation was when the Germans began restricting the Jews civil rights by

making them wear yellow stars. They refuse to leave the community as they are deported to the ghettos

and miss the message by the Hungarian police about incoming danger.

12. Night and Day were contrasted very heavily on pages 16-18. Day was portrayed as a more optimistic

time where individuals had hope. They passed the time with, “optimistic speeches which no one

believed” (Wiesel 17). This shows a small glimpse of hope the Jews felt despite the rumors and their

future in the concentration camps. Night was filled with doom and despair as individuals skipped prayer

so night could pass faster. They speak of death and hopelessness as they go to bed. Human nature tends

to depict night as more negative than day. The darkness of the sky leads somber thoughts and decisions

to flow through individuals minds.

13. Wiesel’s purpose in introducing Madame Schachter is to show the mental aspect the Holocaust had

on the Jews. He describes her at first as a very strong woman who cares for her son. As she realizes her

future, she begins acting hysterical acting “wilted, bewildered and indifferent to the general confidence”

(Wiesel 25). Her son who at first was scared and needed protection becomes the protector and comfort

for his mother as she breaks down. This relationship shifts the protecting view of the parents to child to

the children comforting their parents and supporting them.