Night Father/Son Relationships

What is the central idea? Conflict between self- interest and our concern for others.

Elie needs his father Birkenau – pg. 30 Hand Squeeze – pg. 34 Hospital – pg. 82 What do we think of Elie? Is this juvenile behavior? Is he simply a dependant child?

Father Saves Son Fence Scene – pg. 34 What stops him? Death March – pg. 86 Will to survive linked to Father’s existence Sleep – pg. 88 Wagon Scene – pg. 102 Does his father save him? What parallels do we see?

Son Saves Father Left – Right – pg. 96 Mistaken for Dead – pg. 99 How does Elie revive his father? What is the significance of this scene? How does this foreshadow later events?

Which leads to… Role Reversal Bunk Scene – Pg. 109 Son brings food How does Elie view his father at this time?

Concentration Camp Philosophy Men view each other as enemies Competition for Survival Bela Katz - 35 Pipel - 63 Rabbi Eliahou – 91 Train Scene – 101

Theme – Sons Betrayal of Father Why does he do this? Does it reflect his own guilt? Does he identify with other sons? Does he condemn them? Both? Inability to Act Gypsy – 39 Idek - 54

Father’s Death Doesn’t want to find him – 106 Actions vs. Thoughts 107 – No better than Rabbi’s son Death Scene 112 How does this coincide with the final scene of the memoir?