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Night

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Submitted By njeno
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‘Survival of the Fittest’ is defined as the continued existence of organisms that are best adapted to their environment with the extinction of others (Wikipedia: Survival of the Fittest). In Night by Elie Wiesel, in face of extermination the Jews of Sighet commit uncharacteristic ‘sins’. Fear had forced silence, fear had forced evil deeds and fear had turned the Jews against one another. The cruelties of natural selection is described in Night by Elie Wiesel, portraying the breaking of the human spirit, damaging faith in humanity, family, and God.
Humanity, an important theme in Elie Wiesel’s memoire is portrayed as an ever changing proposition. The Jews of Sighet, and most importantly Elie, is seen struggling with his conscious based on the inhumane acts of oppression he has witnessed. In the beginning his faith is abundant and is evident through his trust in the German’s and disbelief in Moshie the Beadle (his mentor).
“He told me what had happened to him and his companions. …The Jews were ordered to get off and onto waiting trucks. The trucks headed toward a forest. ...Infants were tossed into the air and used as targets for the machine guns” (Wiesel 6).
Although, Elie did not believe Moshie at first the nightmares described by his mentor became a reality when he had first entered the concentration camps. The traumatizing events witnessed by Elie had caused him to question his faith in the human race while stripping him of reason to live. It was hard for him (Elie) to comprehend that the world would allow the systematic extermination of one race; his conversations with his father upon arriving at the camp describe his deteriorating faith in humanity and his fathers. Albeit at this point his father had already lost all faith (Wiesel 33). Elie’s conviction to remain alive can be see when he states: “If that is true, then I don’t want to wait. I’ll run into the electrified barbed wire. That would be easier than a slow death in flames” (Wiesel 33). The change in the character’s view on humanity is a direct result of cruelty and silence. Throughout his experiences he continues to battle his conscious on committing suicide but is unable to bring himself to it at every turn. The correlation between ‘survival of the fittest’ and the human spirit is seen by the ever changing perspective on humanity based on the experiences told by Elie Wiesel. Love is the glue behind family but when the glue breaks so does family. Before the chaos the concentration camps caused, Elie and many other Jews of the Sighet community are seen as loving and devoted members of family. At many instances the reason behind Elie’s survival is his father. At one point he refuses to allow himself to die because there would be no on there to take care of his father and he would pass into the void without him (Wiesel 86-87). Starvation and individual survival soon change this perception. Many different characters are seen failing the ‘test’ of family when they decide to fight for their own survival versus those around. The lack of food, rest and constant face of death forced many of the Jews to turn on their own families. At one point Elie describes a scene where he witness a boy beating his father for bread who are both in turn killed by other fellow Jews for the same reason (Wiesel 101-102). Although, he (Elie) refuses to allow himself to become like his other inmates he soon conjures up the idea to ditch his father for self-preservation.
“Yet at the same time a thought crept into my mind: If only I didn’t find him! If only I were relieved of this responsibility, I could use all my strength to fight for my own survival, to take care of myself … Instantly, I felt ashamed, ashamed of myself forever” (Wiesel106).
His shame in his thoughts allow him to realize how far pushed he was, how far starvation had forced him to go; in his depth he found a darkness to him which he didn’t know existed. Family is an everlasting bond but fear of death and survival can break the human spirit to the point of evil as break the bond of family and pit them against each other. Religion and the existence of a deity kept the Jewish community alive although many member’s especially Elie are seen battling His existence. Upon first entrance into the camps Elie loses his faith in God because of his silence and the death of ‘his people’. “For the first time, I felt anger rising within me. Why should I sanctify His name? The Almighty, the eternal and terrible Master of the Universe, Chose to be silent. What was there to thank him for” (Wiesel 33).
Before the work camps his opinion and faith in God was much different. To help him find strength to endure he was religious and constantly prayed, also he is seen as a deeply religious child before the Germans arrived. He was in synagogue every day and strived to study the Kabbalah under tutelage of Moshie. His change in opinion is due to the lack of action and silence and the extermination and cruelties against him and his people. Although, at many times he seen question the power of God and his existence he turns to him in his most turbulent times to hold him strong, for without it he would have lost his way. Explaining this idea when Elie refuses to fast he felt a void opening within himself (Wiesel 69). God is shown as a path of salvation and strength when the human spirit is at its lowest. Survival of the Fittest a term coined by Herbert Spencer, was first used to describe Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection. These themes are prevalent in Night by Elie Wiesel as Jews are seen killing each other and plotting against each other for their own selfish needs. In pursuit of self-preservation the dark side of the human spirit was seen showing darker sides of humanity, family, and God.

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