Response #3

To begin with, I think that the memoir Night by Elie Wiesel is very eye opening to what the Jewish people had to go through during the Holocaust. I cannot even believe that they were treated this bad. On page 86 I thought it was horrible that Elie said that death “fascinated” him. At fifteen or sixteen years old people should not have to think about death, they should be excited about the long life ahead of them. Next, Elie said, “Nobody wanted to give up now, just before the end, so close to our destination,” (92) which I think people can relate to with any circumstance even if it isn’t to this extent. I say this because everyone wants to overcome the challenges they face in life. If you give up before you finish you don’t get any satisfaction.

One part that I can relate to a movie I have seen is when Juliek is playing the violin when all the Jewish people are confined in the barracks. This automatically reminded me of the movie Titanic, when the string quartet is playing songs as the ship is sinking. Both situations are heartbreaking because they know they are close to death. Another part I hated reading was when Elie said, “Then two ‘gravediggers’ grabbed him by the head and feet and threw him from the wagon, like a sack of flour” (99). It is not fair that after being put through the torture of being starved, abused, etc., they are thrown like dolls out of a train instead of getting a proper burial. This is also shown when it says, “Beneath our feet there lay men, crushed, trampled, underfoot, dying. Nobody paid attention to them” (89). This is crazy because if someone was on the ground hurt in a normal situation, people would stop to help, but because they have been through so much cruelty they don’t even care anymore if they experience death.

Another thing I found kind of ironic was that when they were marching Elie’s father wouldn’t let him sit to rest, however when they reached Buchenwald, his father wanted to rest, but Elie wouldn’t let him. Towards the end of the book, Elie and his father somewhat switch roles of father and son. Elie must take care of his father to help him survive as long as he possibly can, when he is only a teenager. After Elie’s father became bedridden Elie said, “I listened to him shouting at them that they were lazy good-for-nothings who only wanted to stay in bed” (109), talking about the doctor seeing the sick patients. This statement is nasty because if he had been through what the Jewish people had been through he’d be in rough shape too. He is in no position to criticize them for falling ill. Lastly, at the end when they were liquidating the camp, it was not right that they were not given food for six days. How were they even able to survive that with being extremely weak to begin with? Although I did not enjoy reading this book because it was too gruesome, I believe Elie Wiesel did a great job of explaining the Holocaust and spreading the word so something like it would never occur again.  

Reader Response 3

After finishing Night by Elie Weisel, I feel that the treatment of the Jews, and the violence and brutality was just so reoccuring and common that it started to effect me as a reader.  When I first was presented with the death and viscious killings, such as the cremations, I was definitely taken back and uncomfortable while reading about the Jewish murders.  However, as I continued to get deeper and deeper into the story, the deaths were just so numerous and freqeunt I almost became immune to any feelings toward them.  Weisel  describes a certain "numbness" toward feelings and deaths in the beginning of the story, which the Jews had felt after experiencing so much and I personally felt this too as a reader.  The last death certainly didn't effect me as much as the first because I was use to the same dreary scenerio.  This feeling reminds me of the text, Into Thin Air by John Krakauer, when Krakauer describes how he is shaken by the first dead body he sees on his expedition up Everest, but by the second dead body, death doesn't really effect him.  It's as if Weisel, Krakauer, and readers shut out the deaths because they don't want to experience those emotions or they just are use to them. 

Also, the text touches upon the relationships between family and friends in devastating and testing situations.  On one hand, Elie says how his father is the only thing that keeps him going and they help each other through.  I definitely think that if I were in a situation such as the concentration camps, I would want company with me.  However, Weisel does tell how in his situation the Jews were better off alone at times, everyman for himself.  Rabbi Eliahu is a friend of Weisel's father who comes looking for his son, Weisel says, "He had already gone through the door when I remembered that I had noticed his son running beside me...But then I remembered something else: his son had seen him losing ground...And he had continued to run in front, letting the distance between them become greater," (91).  This is one of the scenarios that really challenges the relationship between family and in this case the Rabbi's son  leaves him to fend for himself.  It really challenges my view of family because I feel that you should always look out for your loved ones and I think I would stay with my family no matter what.  The son and the Rabbi have gone through so much together already and the son basically leaves him to die.  Wouldn't the son want that company going further?  I feel that the son is so fortunate to be able to stay with his father this far through the journey, yet he just gives up on staying together.  The same idea of leaving your loved ones behind comes up again with Elie and his father.  The Blockalteste says to Elie, "Listen to me, kid.  Don't forget that you are in a concentration camp.  In this place, it is every man for himself, and you cannot think of others...In this place there is no such thing as father, brother, friend," (110).  This passage really captures my attention because it poses such an internal conflict for Elie.  He feels guilty for even considering leaving his father while he is ill, however by giving his father rations of his food and his energy, he is weakening himself.  I feel differently toward Elie then I do toward Rabbi Eliahu's son because Elie's father is beyond helping at this point and Rabbi Eliahu could have been helped.  I can't imagine having to give up on my own family member, but I do see the Blockalteste's point, Weisel was only hurting himself by trying to save his father who was beyond saving.  It does show how sometimes in certain situations you need to have your own best interest in mind, however I do believe you should do whatever you can to help your loved ones until it is too late.  Overall this novel has touched upon the impact humans can have and death and it has also challenged some of my views of the world.

response #3 :)

Already I'm confused reading how they start off running like dogs. Why do they always run, what does it do for them? There's literally no point in them wasting their energy to run. I found it extremely saddening when people would rest for a couple minutes and get shot by the SS officers, why don't they try straight running for that long after being in the worst condition of their life! Those officers are literally disgusting to have the audacity to shot the innocent, tired runners, they're hungry, thirsty, and extremely tired, they aren't just stopping for fun. Also, when people sat down for a couple minutes to close their eyes, death took them over and killed them instantly. I found this very peaceful, they were taken in a  way that was almost relaxing and no one could harm them, they were just left on the side where they fell asleep. Even though they suffered all those years, at least they didn't have to suffer a terrible death with it like many others who were shot or hung in front of everyone.
At one point corruption took place when Elie claimed "I dug my nails into unknown faces. I was biting my way through." (p. 93) Every one was trying to survive but it was becoming extremely difficult when you have multiple bodies either dead or alive suffocating you and others. This shows a state of cannibalism to me. They didn't care who they had to kill in the process, as long as they came out alive, that's all that mattered. Elie also prayed to go that he wouldn't leave his father to die being so weak, like the Rabbi's son left him on purpose.
I was extremely astonished when his father died. That was very depressing how they treated the sick people as if they were already. Just because they're hurt, doesn't mean they don't need food and they yell and beat the vulnerable victims.

Individual Response 2

I was surprised to catch myself feeling very insensitive to the events taking place. I felt as though the book was essentially repeating itself. For example, when Elie was punished for discovering the SS officer and the young girl fornicating in a deserted room, he recalls that he "no longer felt anything except the lashes of the whip. [The officer] took his time between lashes. Only the first really hurt" (57). Just as Elie does not feel anything after the initial strike, I am almost no longer experiencing the surprise and emotion towards what is happening. Maybe I, too, am adapting to the same environment the Jews were forced into. I had stated in a previous response how exposing oneself to grotesque and horrible images allows the mind to build barriers against the corresponding emotions. This may be happening now. Possibly the reason why I have adapted so quickly is because I am comfortably louging on the couch reading a book. There is no physical adaptation to overcome; the mind comes first; mind over matter. I do, however, feel guilty for letting myself revert to a comfortable state of mind, allowing my conscience, not so much as to adapt, but rather ignore the true meaning and pain of the words in front of me and consider only the textual definitions. On the other hand, this may help me see the Holocaust at this point throught the eyes of Wiesel, for he, too, is immune to its tortuous effects on the brain.

At this stage in Elie's imprisonment, he and all the other Jews are beginning to recognize the purpose of friendship in survival. On the one hand, companionship allows one to have some reason to persevere. When Elie and his father are put in the electrical building to separate parts, he is introduced to two brothers, Yossi and Tibi, whose parents had been killed in a previous concentration camp. Elie remembers the brothers telling him that they "lived for each other, body and soul" (50), which, with the memory of their parents' extermination, may have helped them to survive and push the other to carry on. In fact, I remember reading in my research how the brothers attributed their survival to the strong bond they had developed. I do feel that having a companion during tough times does ease the strain on both partners. For one, you are not alone in your efforts. Sometimes humans, when faced with extreme adversity, lose sight of hope because their minds and their hearts are telling them to simply succumb and release their burden. Yet, this is not always the best choice, and we may often need that extra push to keep on moving forward. It helps even more if the companion is simultaneously empathetic to your endeavors. In the case of Yossi and Tibi, they are similarly subjected to the terrors of the Holocaust. Therefore, they understand the predicament, as well as each other, and essentially share the hardship. Because of this, I do feel that the phrase "misery loves company" may actually be quite beneficial in certain circumstances.

response #2 !

The conditions in the camps are still gut wrenching, including how they treat the people as well. At one point in the story they're told to clean the room for the Russians so they don't think "pigs" are living there. When in reality, if they're treated like animals, let other people know how they're treated. There should be no secret in how these poor Jews were treated, if Germans had no shame in treating them this way there should be no shame in telling people about it. I literally felt sick to my stomach when i read about Elie getting whipped. How on earth could someone do that to another human being? Imagine minding your own business and seeing what he saw? Elie was scared enough emotionally from that, and certainly didn't deserve to be scared physically. Little by little, every ones emotions are being changed, they can no longer feel any sorrow or cry over their miseries. Elie's father almost didn't make it past the inspection thing and was going to have to go into the crematory. Elie had no emotion whatsoever and couldn't even grieve properly for almost losing his father. Why have these camps changed them so much already?
Anther problem that really got me upset was their clothing situations. They slept in literally nothing. They had these tiny blankets, I'm assuming, and their clothes clearly aren't high quality. The winter time was the worst, even though they received a thicker shirt, the weather was still unbearable. Elie said that while working it felt like his hand was sticking to the steel slates he was moving. If your workers are that cold, and that uncomfortable don't you think you'd try to make them comfortable;e so they can work better? It just doesn't make sense to expect such high quality work from them but not treat them normally.
Also, listening to the hangings of people literally made me want to throw up. Why did everyone have to watch the hangings of other men, as if it wasn't hard enough watching them get beat, they had to watch them hang in a noose? Reading about that poor little boy who was hung literally broke my heart. Unlike the rest of the men, he didn't die within the first couple minutes. Becausee he was so young and underweight, it took him longer to die. This left him just chilling there waiting to die. Imagine waiting for your death to come and having people watch you like theres nothing wrong with it? This book is honestly so disturbing in many ways. How were people just treated this way? Why were they? Theres so many questions i would ask the German officers and especially Hitler. I just become so angry thinking about him and his disgusting ways. I don't care how messed up in the head people said he was. Theres no excuse for what he did, its disgusting and inhumane.

reader response 2

After reading further into Night, I have some new comments on the way the Jewish people were treated at the new camp, Buna. For example, I didn’t think it was acceptable that Idek randomly attacked Elie. You could easily compare this situation with bullying stories you hear about nowadays. Although it might not be to the same level of abuse, it is still not acceptable to hurt someone else for no reason. It is truly sad that people feel the need to take advantage of other people just because they simply “feel like it.” Elie says, “One day when Idek was venting his fury, I happened to cross his path. He threw himself on me like a wild beast...throwing me to the ground...Abruptly, he calmed down and sent me back to work as if nothing had happened” (53). Next, I believe that it is unfair that the dentists were checking the mouths of the Jewish people for gold crowns. It is not right that they had to give up items needed to keep their teeth good so the Germans could sell it for a little extra money. Although the way they are treated at Buna is slightly better than the cruel conditions at Auschwitz, like having the job of burning people alive, I still believe that they were treated as less than human.

            Another point Elie brought up that I didn’t quite agree with was his choice to give up on God. He says, “Why do you go on troubling these poor people’s wounded minds, their ailing bodies?” (66). I see why he is upset about God not helping the Jewish people out of their misery, but I don’t think he should turn against him all together. It must’ve felt like God abandoned all of them when they needed him most, which would be very difficult to keep hope alive. However, at least if he had kept praying it would’ve supplied him with a little optimism that eventually they would be returned to safety. By turning away from religion completely, it will eventually lead to someone becoming more negative and thinking you will never pull out of it. One point I could not imagine happened was Elie’s infirmary roommate saying, “I have more faith in Hitler than in anyone else” (81). How can you not have hatred from this monster when he is putting you through this torture?!?! He is the reason they were put through this! I was completely shocked when I read that section. Lastly, the author’s point of view had an impact on me when the doctors did the selections because I could feel the nervousness that Elie and his father felt. His father was becoming frailer by the day and he was the only one he had left. He would be devastated to lose him now, and I know if I was put in his situation, my stomach would be in knots. Overall, I am still very interested to see how Elie managed to make it out of this situation alive. 

Reader Response 2

Fellow Readers,
After reading up to page 84 in Night, by Elie Weisel, I find myself confused about a few aspects within the story and even though I found this section slightly less horrid then the last, I am still quite disturbed by the ill-treatment Elie and the other Jews have recieved.  In my opinion, I find the camp of Buna, which Weisel resides in and describes in this section, a bit more merciful and better then the previous camps and the Jews first experience with the cremations.   Although there were still some beatings and some murders, there seemed to be less here then there were in past camps, and for the most part, you were allowed to stay with your family or friends and Weisel remained with his father for a while.  However, there were a few sentences Weisel writes that really caught my attention, he says, "On the fourth day, as we stood in front of our tent, the Kapos appeared.  Each one began to choose the men he like: 'You...you...you' They pointed their fingers, the way one might choose cattle, or merchandise," (49).  The words the author uses here in reference to how the Jews were treated and how they felt such as "cattle" and "merchandise", really show how demeaning the SS treated the Jews.  By Weisel using these words, the readers can truly understand the inhumane conditions the Jewish people faced.  I find this morally wrong, for we are all human, no one should be considered above anyone else regardless of race or anything.  What makes the Germans, Hitler, and the Nazis so  much better then the Jews?  They have more power so it's acceptable for them to walk all over people?

Also, I found that this section really challenged many faiths and the belief of God.  I believed the text really addressed religion in general, which is personal to me for I follow the Catholic religion that believes in God.  There were many times Weisel challeneged his own religion and challenged God for allowing the Jewish people to be in this position.  At one point he says, "Blessed be God's name?  Why, but why would I bless Him?  Every fiber in me rebelled.  Because He caused thousands of children to burn in His mass graves?" (67).  Elie really caught my attention here, for he had once been so faithful and inside he remained faithful, but he experienced so much that he really gave up hope.  I understand him being angry at the world here after everything he has gone through.  Weisel really challenges his own beliefs here and others, especially if you are religious.  One could wonder, why would God, who the Jews have constantly devoted thier lives too and served, allow them to suffer like this? I believe it also addresses how you need to have faith, especially if you are going through awful times such as this because having belief in something gives you hope and Elie himself explains that after he started to rebel against God and his beliefs, he felt alone and more or less helpless.  The one passage that I found very confusing and surprising was when a Jew says to Elie, "I have more faith in Hitler than anyone else.  He alone has kept his promises, to the Jewish people," (81).  I had to stop and reread this line a few times because I honestly couldn't believe a Jew would say this in regard to Hitler.  Hitler was the man responsible for the massive Jewish killings and he was the mastermind behind Jewish extermination.  How could he possible have these feelings toward Hitler?  I found this by far the most difficult to understand out of the whole reading so far. Could it be that the Jews were tormented so greatly into believing that they were worthless or less than others that they actually started to believe it?  I am interested to see how Wiesel, now without real faith is able to escape from this terrible lifestyle.