Dialectical Journals: Night by Elie Wiesel Chapters 3-4
This is a continuation of chapters 1-2 (http://bit.ly/6HMG87). This is a series of dialectical journals that demonstrates my thinking process while reading and annotating Night by Elie Wiesel.
Chapter 3
After the cart is emptied, the selection process begins. Elie and his father are separated from the rest of their family. Elie and his father are told by one of the current detainees to say that Elie is eighteen when he is really fifteen and for his father to say that he is forty when he is really fifty. I believe that this allowed Elie and his father too look more fitting for the job at hand, and will be spared for selection. Also, the two learn that those who were not chosen to work were burned in the crematoria behind them. The reality of the concentration camps starts to sink in, and the animalistic actions are demonstrated by Elie. Also, at this point, the two have moved around from camp to camp about three times. I think this is so the individuals don’t feel comfortable or get a chance to revolt.
Chapter 4
In this chapter, Elie and his father are both transported to the concentration camp, Buna. I feel that the doctors that examined Elie were not interested in his health whatsoever; an example is when the dentist checked for gold teeth instead of decay or any usual problems a dentist would check for. Since Elie had a gold crown, his number was written down, and he was ordered to go get it removed. Elie was hesitant about giving up his gold crown because he would lose the ability to eat in that area of his mouth. Although Elie delays the process of removing his crown, it is eventually achieved. At first he was offered some extra food, but since he resisted, it was just taken from him by force. Also, in this camp, Kapos were formed. Kapos are the group of workers that each Jew was assigned to. Also, I find the flashback that was used here was an example of foreshadowing. The scene that was created allowed the reader to think that Elie escaped. Also, I find that the Nazis were successful in adding the fear factor to the Jew’s lives. The two unattended pots of soup were untouched because of the fear that the Nazis instilled in them. I think that Elie was seriously impacted from the death of the “Pipel” because he truly saw the horror and cruelty that the Nazis provided.
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