Elie's Loss Of Faith: A Turning Point In Night

Elie Wiesel's book 'Night' explores the author's loss of faith in God as he experiences the horrors of the Holocaust. Beginning the novel as a deeply religious and curious young man, Wiesel's faith is challenged by the atrocities he witnesses, leading him to question God's existence and justice.

On page 33, Wiesel writes, 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? This quote exemplifies the internal conflict Wiesel experiences as he grapples with his faith.

Throughout the book, Wiesel's faith is tested as he endures the cruel conditions of the concentration camps, ultimately leading to his loss of faith in God.

Elie's strong religious faith before the Holocaust

Elie Wiesel's memoir, "Night", recounts his experiences as a Jewish boy during the Holocaust, reflecting on his loss of faith in God amidst the atrocities he witnessed. However, before the Holocaust, Elie had a strong religious faith, which is evident in the following paragraphs:

Elie's religious devotion was evident from a young age. At twelve, he was deeply immersed in his Jewish faith, studying the Talmud during the day and praying at the synagogue at night. He was so devoted that he wept over the destruction of the Temple. Elie's faith was a fundamental part of his life, so much so that he couldn't explain why it was so essential to him. He was eager to learn more and even sought out a teacher, Moché the Beadle, to study Jewish mysticism or the cabbala, despite his father's belief that he was too young.

Elie's faith was not just an individual pursuit but a communal one. Many of his fellow Jews in the town of Sighet shared his strong religious beliefs. Their faith was so deep-rooted that even when faced with banishment from their homes, they interpreted it as a trial sent by God to test their faith. This unwavering belief in God guided their actions and gave them solace in the face of adversity.

Elie's faith was not just confined to religious rituals and studies; it was a source of strength and motivation for him. Before the Holocaust, he believed that as long as his family stuck together, everything would be alright. This faith gave him hope and resilience, shaping his perspective on life and providing a sense of purpose.

However, as the narrative progresses, Elie's unshakeable faith begins to falter when confronted with the horrors of the Holocaust. The cruelty and suffering he witnesses challenge his belief in a just and merciful God, leading him to question and ultimately lose faith in a higher power.

While Elie's strong religious faith before the Holocaust is evident, his experiences during this dark period test his beliefs, leading to a crisis of faith that is poignantly explored in "Night".

The horrors of the concentration camps

The Holocaust saw Jews across Europe subjected to the most horrific atrocities, with many losing their faith in humanity and God. Elie Wiesel's memoir, "Night", recounts his experiences in Nazi concentration camps, including Auschwitz, Buchenwald, and others.

Wiesel's narrative provides a detailed account of the grotesque visions that were permanently ingrained in his memory. The cruelty of the German officers and the inhumanity he witnessed first-hand challenged his faith. Wiesel's belief in God is tested throughout the memoir, and by the end, he has lost most of his faith.

On page 32, Wiesel writes about the first seeds of doubt that entered his mind: "Never shall I forget those flames that consumed my faith forever". This was in reference to witnessing the bodies of Jewish children being burned. On page 33, he questions how God could let this happen: "If God did exist, why would he let you go through all the pain and suffering?".

Wiesel's faith is further tested by the violence and horror inflicted on the prisoners. On page 39, he describes his anger at witnessing his father being slapped by a Nazi soldier with such force that he fell and crawled back on all fours. The public lashings and violent hangings also impacted his faith. On page 62, he hears a man asking, "Where is God now?", and he answers himself: "Here He is—He is hanging here on this gallows".

The separation from his mother and sister also played a role in his loss of faith. On page 105, he realises that his father doesn't have the strength to survive on his own, and it's too late to save him. He feels guilty for not being able to help his father, and this further distances him from God.

By the end of the memoir, Wiesel has lost his innocence and is traumatised by his experiences. He has lost faith in God, family, and humanity. He is left alone in a world without love or mercy, feeling stronger than the Almighty to whom his life had been bound for so long.

The injustice of God

Elie Wiesel's relationship with God is a central theme in his memoir, "Night". The book details the author's experiences in Nazi concentration camps during the Holocaust, and how these experiences caused him to question his faith.

Wiesel's faith in God is absolute at the beginning of the book. He is a deeply religious Jew, who devotes a large portion of his time to religious studies and prayer. However, his faith is challenged by the horrors he witnesses in the concentration camps. He struggles to reconcile his belief in a merciful God with the suffering and cruelty he endures.

On page 33, Wiesel writes about his anger towards God, questioning why he should sanctify His name when God has chosen to be silent in the face of so much suffering. This anger and doubt grow as the book progresses. On page 45, he writes that he has ceased to pray, and while he does not deny God's existence, he doubts His absolute justice.

The hanging of a young boy, the "sad-eyed angel" or "pipel", is a pivotal moment in the book that further shakes Wiesel's faith. On page 62, he writes, "Behind me, I heard the same man asking: 'Where is God now?' And I heard a voice within me answer him: 'Where is He? Here He is—He is hanging here on this gallows...'" This quote illustrates how Wiesel feels abandoned by God and struggles to reconcile His existence with the evil he witnesses.

By the end of the book, it is unclear if Wiesel has completely lost his faith in God. He writes, "I did not fast...I no longer accepted God's silence. As I swallowed my ration of soup, I turned that act into a symbol of rebellion, or protest against Him" (page 69). While he has not forsaken his faith, it has been irrevocably changed by his experiences during the Holocaust.

The silence of God

Elie Wiesel's relationship with God is a central theme of his book "Night", which recounts his experiences as a Jewish boy under Nazi control during the Holocaust.

At the beginning of the book, Elie is deeply religious and curious, wanting to learn anything he can about God. He is so close to God that he cannot imagine a world without Him and cannot explain why his faith is so essential to him.

However, once he is taken away from his home and exposed to the horrors of the Holocaust, Elie starts to lose faith in God and loses all hope. He begins to see God as unjust and uncaring, and stops praying. He feels anger and hatred towards God for allowing innocent people, including children, to be slaughtered and burned.

Throughout the book, Elie grapples with his faith, and there are several significant quotes that illustrate his changing relationship with God. On page 4 of the book, he questions why he prays: "Why did I pray? Strange question. Why did I live? Why did I breathe?". On page 33, he asks: "Why should I sanctify His name? The Almighty, the eternal and terrible Master of the Universe, chose to be silent". By page 45, he has "ceased to pray. I concurred with Job! I was not denying His existence, but I doubted His absolute justice".

Elie's loss of faith is also reflected in the people around him. On page 64, someone behind him asks: "Where is merciful God, where is He?". On page 65, he hears a voice within himself answer the same question: "Where is He? This is where—hanging here from this gallows".

While Elie's faith is significantly shaken, it is debatable whether he completely lost it. He exhibits contradictory behaviour, returning to praise and, in later years, saying that he never lost his faith but instead felt anger and protest.

The cruelty of the German officers

Elie Wiesel's memoir, "Night," offers a detailed account of his experiences in German concentration camps during the Holocaust, reflecting on the dehumanization of individuals and the resulting loss of faith in God. The cruelty inflicted by the German officers is evident in the way they treated the Jews with disrespect and inhumanity, leading to a loss of hope and a belief that God was unjust or even non-existent.

Wiesel's narrative highlights the physical and mental struggles he endured, which challenged his once unwavering faith. He worked hard to survive and repeatedly asked God for help, only to be met with silence. The horrors he witnessed, such as the burning of Jewish children's bodies and the violent public lashings, caused him to doubt God's power and mercy. Wiesel's anger and sense of betrayal are evident in his writings, where he questions God's role in allowing such atrocities to occur.

The German officers' cruelty had a profound impact on Elie's view of God, leading him to stop praying and rebel against his religious upbringing. The loss of faith is evident in his writings, where he states, "I did not fast...I no longer accepted God's silence. As I swallowed my ration of soup, I turned that act into a symbol of rebellion, or protest against Him" (pg. 69).

The concentration camps exposed Elie to unimaginable cruelty and suffering, which caused a significant shift in his beliefs. The German officers' actions led to a loss of innocence and a sense of hatred towards God for allowing such atrocities to occur. The experiences in the camps changed Elie's personality and outlook on life, transforming him into a different person.

Frequently asked questions