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Symbolism In Elie Wiesel's Night

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“It began in images and it ended in symbolism.” – B. W. Powe. There are many examples of symbolism in the novel Night. Today, we will examine the use of the word “corpses”, the use of fire, and the spoon and the knife Elie’s father gave to him. The first example of symbolism in Night is the use of the word “corpses”. “Corpses”, in this situation, does not necessarily mean a dead body. In this case, “corpses” represents the death of the author’s (Elie Wiesel) belief in God. The day Elie and his father arrived at the camp, Elie’s faith slowly began to go away; the Nazis were burning babies in a ditch. His faith in God was truly lost the night the child, Pipel, is hanged. Everyone that witnessed the hanging thought, “Where is God? Where is He?”

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