Literature

Night is an autobiographical book by the award-winning writer Ellie Wiesel that contains the account of the authors experience in a prison camp during World War II. Elie almost gives up, but the people he interacts with, one way or another, keep his hope alive and strengthen his will to survive.

Elie witnesses countless horrifying sights in the camp that are more than enough to churn the stomach of even the most hardened man. One of those is the hanging of a very young boy, who dies slowly because his weight cannot break his neck. As the boy struggles for half an hour, Elies spirit begins to sink and his faith in God starts to diminish. However, his will to survive does not leave him. I was no longer able to lament. On the contrary, I felt very strong. His mind becomes rebellious against the unimaginable cruelty of their captors. This makes him strong, and, after that incident in the gallows, surviving becomes his main goal.

Aside from the poor young boy, Juliek and the French girl contribute significantly to strengthen Elies will to survive. Juliek does not know Elie personally, but the music from his violin gives tranquillity to Elie. How could I forget that concert, given to an audience of dying and dead men. More importantly, it shows Elie that everything is not lost there is still hope. The French girl, on the other hand, is soothing, calming his heart when he is about to burst.  Keep your anger and hatred for another day...but not now....Wait.She symbolizes serenity amidst the chaos, and her words keeps Elies sanity.

The life in Auschwitz prison camp is hellish it can drive anyone to insanity or to invite death as the only escape. However, despite of all this madness, Elie survives because of the people he meets or interacts with. It is not justifiable to assume that he survives by his own merit. Those people are there to remind him not to lose hope everytime he falters.