Night
Elie Wiesel
Contributed by Vernita Mires
Motifs
Motifs are devices or structures that are used by artists or authors to help in the development of a theme.
Tradition

Judaism is not just a religion; it’s a culture. Its 6,000-year existence has a dispersed culture. It is a nation without a boundary, a nation without a country, and a people without a home. It is no wonder that memory and tradition play an important role in the Jewish way of life. Since there is no distinct geographic entity, Judaism relies more on customs and traditions. They are passed down from one generation to another as bearers of their cultural identity. The Nazis wanted to annihilate their religion, and hence they humiliated and destroyed the Jews. There was a clear attempt to remove every sign of Judaism from Earth. Eliezer, in Night, describes how the Germans desecrated Jewish temples and coerced the Jews into breaking their customs and laws. Their heads were deliberately shaved and inked to violate Jewish scripture. The Nazi genocide tried to wipe out an entire community. Their collective sense of national and cultural identity was harmed time and time again. The Jews have a folk tradition of conversation and storytelling. The Shlomo’s storytelling symbolizes the entire Jewish culture. Eliezer’s father’s story is cut short by the arrival of the Nazis. The Holocaust was an attempt to wipe out the entire Jewish history. Eliezer, from beginning to the end, sticks to his tradition. Even after his faith in God has apparently been lost, he acts as an important link to life outside the Holocaust. Eliezer finds it difficult to rebel against God; he is anxious on breaking the fast on Yom Kippur. He regrets it when he forgets to say the prayer for the dead for his friend, Akiba Drumer. He is upset — not because he has betrayed God but for his friend and fellow survivors.

Religious Observance

In the beginning of the text, there are several mentions of religion and religious observances. Eliezer narrates his story by beginning with the Talmud, Jewish studies, and other rituals. He is angry about Nazis destroying the Sabbath and the synagogue. However, when the story comes to an end, the references have faded a bit. Eliezer’s religious tone and tenor has become milder. After his father’s death, there is no direct mention of Kaddish. His only regret is that, “There were no prayers at his grave. No candles were lit in his memory.” The Jewish traditions and terminology are avoided, and Eliezer is implying that religion and related observances have no meaning in life. There is an ambiguity in his behavior. On one hand, he says that he has lost all faith in God, and on the other, he expresses his regret for the lack of religious memorial after his father’s death. The other notable thing about Night is that the whole narrative structure is woven around religious references. Akedah provides the groundwork for the narrative. Wiesel relies on biblical passages, like Psalm 150 for describing the loss of faith and Yom Kippur for describing the cruel Nazis’ selection process. Eliezer keeps denying religion and God in his life, yet there is enough proof that that they provide the necessary framework for the story.

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