Night: Companion to Reading Life in Sighet
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- From the Ghettoes to the Gates
- Buna to Buchenwald –The Death March
| Night: Companion to Reading
Life in Sighet: Chapter 1
They are optimistic the war is nearing its end… mostly based on London radio, which may be informing them only of the positives/good such as the Russian front. They may also be naively doubting that anything horrible could/will happen.
The fact that the story is happening so late in the war, gives them ample time to escape. Elie makes such a suggestion to his father about selling the family business and moving to Palenstine (with other Zionists). They then have Moshe’s warning about what happened to him –though they dismiss it. Unfortunately, they also miss the warning from the Hungarian policeman when he knocks on the window surreptitiously. Of course, the small ghettoes were unguarded, which would’ve allowed them to leave, including when Martha (their former housekeeper) pleads to at least let her take the children. Deeper discussion: Why do you think Elie began his text with such a long, drawn out description and explanation of Moshe and their studies? From the Ghettoes to the Gates: Chapter 2
Ghettoes tended to create the façade of normal life that was quickly/abruptly ended when they were herded like cattle into train cars. They attempted to pack, as one man suggests, like it’s a vacation. But the mood is instantly gloomy when they first see terror from the Nazis. They were crammed into cattle cars and given only food and water for the trip and stripped of the possessions they packed. The trip left them thirst, exhausted, disgusted by the stench (due to no bathrooms).
Madame Schachter is a known, well-liked woman from the neighborhood who has lost touch with her family, except her younger child. As they near Auschwitz, she begins to scream “Fire”… this leads to, at first, confusion amongst the Jews and ultimately anger. Surprisingly, rather than attempt to comfort her, they tie her up and beat her. This is another sign of denial and/or possibly further insight into their futures. Chapter 3
Selection is the term used for determining who lives and who dies. It’s based on how valuable the SS may have thought a prisoner to be. Therefore, the divide prisoners by gender and age, then inquire about their occupation.
Birkenau (which is really just one of the three parts of Auschwitz) is the reception center. It’s where prisoners were registered and first selected for death.
Elie’s first impression fills him with fear… and that first “night” was so intimidating and awful that it shakes his faith. He describes the yelling and the clear vision of furnaces.
While “not well thought out” he decides he will run into the barbed wired fence… almost as a sign of revolt. This is one of the first discussions on “control”.
Initiation (how things work/the way it is) is filled with many elements: the violent screaming, guards with guns, the setting, and the overall chaos that create fear in the prisoners. That fear creates a sense of power and control for the SS. The prisoners also endure prison uniforms, trips to the barber, waking at 5AM, (tattoos), being forced to march, and ultimately into forced labor. This demoralizes and “breaks” the prisoners, also making it easier to run the camps. Deeper discussion: Much of chapters 2 and 3 is centered on man’s humanity and/or inhumanity to man. How do you see those elements at play? Buna Chapter 4
Buna, which is also considered Auschwitz, is camp, mostly made up of kinder guards and easier labor done by kids (for non-altruistic reasons). Elie avoids the construction convoy and undergoes a medical inspection, allowing him to work in an electrical equipment building to count bulbs and fittings.
Elie’s own death, as he sees a kind, loving God hanging there. He discusses this as the Nazis force prisoners to not cover their heads (out of respect) and look the young pipel in the eyes as he hangs, struggling for life (as opposed to being immediately killed by hanging).
Kapos are prisoners in charge of other prisoners. In the orchestra block they were the healthiest prisoners that were, unfortunately, moody… flying into extreme fits of rage. Chapter 5
He senses a little eeriness, as there was a mix of tension and excitement. As many go to pray, Elie finds himself unable to acknowledge God’s existence, as how a loving God could allow such things to happen. This leads to a sense of isolation for Elie.
They exercise to give themselves color, making them appear to still be fit for work.
When Elie’s father presents Elie with the knife and spoon, he refers to it as the inheritance. The father literally sees these items as valuable, but because he calls them the inheritance, it symbolizes a father’s love for his son and reminds the reader the Jews have nothing left. This is alarming for Elie as it invigorates his will to live.
His swollen foot becomes so infected he needs surgery. Elie is reminded while in the hospital that Germany/Hitler do not need sick Jews, which is evident as selection happens more frequently.
In hindsight, he learns that the Russian front liberates the camp; however, there is understanding that Hitler’s vow was to kill all Jews, so most believe that Germany would never free the prisoners. Knowing this, Elie makes the decision to leave the hospital and begin the march. Deeper discussion: What is ironic about the prisoners’ feeling about the air raids? Infer the reasons behind prisoners’ attitude toward death. Do you think these feelings are normal? Buna to Buchenwald –The Death March Chapter 6
The desire to keep his father going during the march causes Elie to keep going.
Already pushing his father, when he sees the Rabbi’s son run off, leaving his father in the back, he vows to himself to never abandon his father, but it also reaffirms Elie’s belief that his father would die without him (which is seen throughout this chapter and becomes a running theme).
Elie causes a disturbance during selection, risking his own life, that allows those selected for death to mix with the others. This is further proof of Elie’s vow to keep his father going. Chapter 7
When Elie sees the father emerge with the bread only to be attacked by the son, it scares Elie, as see the selfish, inhumane, animalistic nature that can be emitted during extreme circumstances. He ends the chapter by stating “I was only sixteen” to illustrate how traumatic it was to see this event, which he sees later in his life when the woman from Paris insists she is donating to charity when throwing coins to natives, ignoring the fact that they fight and claw to get the coins. Deeper discussion: What does the juxtaposition of the last two chapters reveal about the fragile nature of humanity? The Corpse Chapter 8
Dysentry is a disease that isn’t curable by surgery so it was something they left untreated until a prisoner’s body would either give out or would be too weak to fight execution. However, since Elie is absent, we don’t know if his end is due to the illness, the guards, or the prisoners who would assault him when Elie was away. Chapter 9
As the war is ending, it gives the prisoners a chance to revolt. When called to the appleplatz, for what Elie believes might be the Jews’ execution, they are told to return the barracks as the camp resistance movement would protect them. They passed Jews as non-Jews and ultimately engage in fighting the remaining SS (though many abandon the camp and their roles)
When the Americans liberate Buchenwald, the prisoners are so emotionless that they think/care little, only wanting to eat. However, this leads to widespread food poisoning, including Elie. Deeper discussion: why do you think he ended the story this way? Did you enjoy the ending or not? What questions do you have at the story’s end? Directory: cms -> lib010 -> PA01916442 -> Centricity -> Domain -> 1545 Domain -> Soc ∙ Ms. Wiley ∙ Culture Resources & Analysis, d name Domain -> Edge fall Quarter 2003 Domain -> Key Concept 1 Britain’s victory over France in the imperial struggle for North America led to new conflicts among the British government, the North American colonists, and American Indians, culminating in the creation of a new nation Domain -> Actively read both secondary sources and respond to corresponding prompts Domain -> Advanced Placement European History Domain -> Authorities black power movement Domain -> At the turn of the century, the United States pursued a more vigorous and aggressive foreign policy than it had in the past, securing the country a place as a new world power. During this period, U. S Domain -> Mrs. Keyes Name American History Date I am An American! 1545 -> Companion to Reading 1545 -> Night: Companion to Reading Life in Sighet Download 16.2 Kb. Share with your friends:
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