(no subject)
Stay Here
Jenny Farrell
In the book Night by Elie Wisel, one thing drives Elie to stay alive: the idea that he can’t leave his father. Many times Elie’s only motivation is the idea that he must live to help his father get through the horrors of the camp. Many times we realize that this bond between the two is very unusual compared to that of many other prisoners in the camp. While most other men who we encounter in the story Night would rather concentrate on their survival alone, Elie and his father dedicate themselves to helping each other through, and never being separated.
Before Elie and his father knew the severity of the situation they were about to be thrust into, they were both dedicated themselves to sticking by each others side. This was also what many other children did while on the bus to the concentration camps. While on the train Elie “threw a glance at Madame Schacter. Her little boy was holding her hand.” (p. 26) the little boy was so concerned with his mother, that he was concentrating hard on making sure he didn’t loose her. The same thoughts went through Elie’s mind many times: “I had one thought - not to lose him. Not to be left alone.” (p. 27) It is understandable that a decision would be made to stay near a parent or someone that you loved when in a situation such as the train and in the camps. Therefore, one would be able to relate to some extent to Elie’s need to follow his father when “I ran after him.” (p. 91)
It sounds almost foolish to say for it is so obvious, but while in the camps, many experienced extreme mental trauma. How Elie was able to avoid loosing all mental control after experiencing such traumatic events is truly unknown. One thing that could have helped him through the many horrible times at the camps might have been the emotional support provided by his father. For Elie, his “father’s presence was the only thing that stopped me…” (p. 82) on many occasions from just giving up and succumbing to the tantalizing idea of death. Sometimes it was running into the barbed wire, or letting himself be trampled by the mob running behind him. Sometimes however, Elie received help from his father when he helps him out of the snow, urging him to “Come on, come on. Get up.” p. 84) In this case it seems to be a physical support that helps Elie mentally, and other times an emotional reminder kept the body going. When Elie thought of giving up, he always took a rain check: “What would he do without me? I was his only support.” (p. 82) Without the support of each other, Elie and his father might not have been able to make it in the Concentration camps for as long as they did, and might have died earlier.
For a long time, Elie tries to help his father avoid death such as on the train. When Elie looks down and his father is “resting” in a heap in the corner, he “slapped him. I rubbed his hands crying: ‘Father! Father! Wake up’” (p. 94). Trying desperately, he attempts to wake his father knowing that if he doesn’t wake up soon he will loose him forever. Thankfully in this situation Elie succeeded in waking his father. Later when Elie’s father comes down with Dysentery, Elie knows that he can’t save his father a second time. However, Elie tries to make sure that his father is as happy as he can make him before he dies. The one thing that Elie’s father wants the most is “Some water…” (p. 105). Elie knows this is the worst thing he could give his father, and feels guilt knowing he is killing his father faster. Elie’s father does not see it this way as he begs for water before it is too late. He asks while lying on his death bed “…Why are you being so unkind to me?” (p. 105) when Elie is trying to keep his father alive for as long as possible. Although it is all in vain. We never know if Elie’s father died from the Dysentery or from the oven. For all Elie knows, he might not have been hurting his father at all.
No matter what happened, though Elie thought of leaving his fathers side, he always mechanically returned like the dog the Kapos saw him as. Without hesitance, Elie was able to stay by his father’s side, and together they helped each other get up until finally one was too weak to. Such things as this were rare in the camps were “there are no fathers, no brothers, and no friends.” (p. 105). One can only hope that they are able to have a parent with them that they will help, and will receive help from in return
Jenny Farrell
In the book Night by Elie Wisel, one thing drives Elie to stay alive: the idea that he can’t leave his father. Many times Elie’s only motivation is the idea that he must live to help his father get through the horrors of the camp. Many times we realize that this bond between the two is very unusual compared to that of many other prisoners in the camp. While most other men who we encounter in the story Night would rather concentrate on their survival alone, Elie and his father dedicate themselves to helping each other through, and never being separated.
Before Elie and his father knew the severity of the situation they were about to be thrust into, they were both dedicated themselves to sticking by each others side. This was also what many other children did while on the bus to the concentration camps. While on the train Elie “threw a glance at Madame Schacter. Her little boy was holding her hand.” (p. 26) the little boy was so concerned with his mother, that he was concentrating hard on making sure he didn’t loose her. The same thoughts went through Elie’s mind many times: “I had one thought - not to lose him. Not to be left alone.” (p. 27) It is understandable that a decision would be made to stay near a parent or someone that you loved when in a situation such as the train and in the camps. Therefore, one would be able to relate to some extent to Elie’s need to follow his father when “I ran after him.” (p. 91)
It sounds almost foolish to say for it is so obvious, but while in the camps, many experienced extreme mental trauma. How Elie was able to avoid loosing all mental control after experiencing such traumatic events is truly unknown. One thing that could have helped him through the many horrible times at the camps might have been the emotional support provided by his father. For Elie, his “father’s presence was the only thing that stopped me…” (p. 82) on many occasions from just giving up and succumbing to the tantalizing idea of death. Sometimes it was running into the barbed wire, or letting himself be trampled by the mob running behind him. Sometimes however, Elie received help from his father when he helps him out of the snow, urging him to “Come on, come on. Get up.” p. 84) In this case it seems to be a physical support that helps Elie mentally, and other times an emotional reminder kept the body going. When Elie thought of giving up, he always took a rain check: “What would he do without me? I was his only support.” (p. 82) Without the support of each other, Elie and his father might not have been able to make it in the Concentration camps for as long as they did, and might have died earlier.
For a long time, Elie tries to help his father avoid death such as on the train. When Elie looks down and his father is “resting” in a heap in the corner, he “slapped him. I rubbed his hands crying: ‘Father! Father! Wake up’” (p. 94). Trying desperately, he attempts to wake his father knowing that if he doesn’t wake up soon he will loose him forever. Thankfully in this situation Elie succeeded in waking his father. Later when Elie’s father comes down with Dysentery, Elie knows that he can’t save his father a second time. However, Elie tries to make sure that his father is as happy as he can make him before he dies. The one thing that Elie’s father wants the most is “Some water…” (p. 105). Elie knows this is the worst thing he could give his father, and feels guilt knowing he is killing his father faster. Elie’s father does not see it this way as he begs for water before it is too late. He asks while lying on his death bed “…Why are you being so unkind to me?” (p. 105) when Elie is trying to keep his father alive for as long as possible. Although it is all in vain. We never know if Elie’s father died from the Dysentery or from the oven. For all Elie knows, he might not have been hurting his father at all.
No matter what happened, though Elie thought of leaving his fathers side, he always mechanically returned like the dog the Kapos saw him as. Without hesitance, Elie was able to stay by his father’s side, and together they helped each other get up until finally one was too weak to. Such things as this were rare in the camps were “there are no fathers, no brothers, and no friends.” (p. 105). One can only hope that they are able to have a parent with them that they will help, and will receive help from in return