Imagine yourself in Auschwitz. Find yourself behind barbed wire, paralyzed by fear of the unknown. Now, think about this in reality. In Elie Wiesel’s memoir, Night, the reader is let into the mind of a changed person; one who will forever remember such atrocities committed by Germany from 1933-1945. Throughout this short book, it seems as though it goes by so fast. From a peaceful God loving child, to a rebellious and miserable 15 year old boy who now denies him, Night shows how the NSDAP changed the minds of people forever through hate and murder for 12 long years. This text is filled with deep similes, metaphors and allusions, especially symbolism. The author uses the symbols fire, a violin, and train cars to portray a sense of hopelessness, …show more content…
This representation of hopelessness is apparent when the violin was crushed, and all humanity appeared to be crushed with this instrument that plays such beautiful music. Another example of hopelessness can be found on page 90, where the book says: “What madman could be playing the violin here, at the brink of his own grave? Or was it really an hallucination. It must have been Juliek.” This symbolism helps the reader understand how inhuman it was during this time and place. The violin shows hopelessness in the story because of it being playing during such an inhuman situation.

Another apparent symbol in the memoir Night is fire, which represents agony and suffering. This representation of agony and suffering is apparent when Madame Schächter was screaming aboard the train on their trip to Auschwitz. Another example of agony and suffering can be found when people were physically being burnt alive by the dozens in mass fire pits. The fire helps the reader understand how surreal and unorthodox these situations truly were. The fire was an apparent symbol because it helped explain how agonizing it was during that time, not only in the fire but in the whole