THEMES AND SYMBOLS IN ELIE WIESEL’S NIGHT

THEME #1 STRUGGLE TO MAINTAIN A FAITH IN A MERCIFUL GOD Hard to believe in a just God __________________________________ Wiesel struggles to believe in a just God throughout the book when he sees so much cruelty

THEME # 2 SILENCE Of God and the victims ___________________________________________ Particularly the silence of God throughout the whole ordeal. Also the silence of the victims and lack of resistance

THEME # 3 INHUMANITY TOWARDS OTHER HUMAN BEINGS Of both Nazis and prisoners to each other __________________________________ Not only of the Nazis but the cruelty his fellow prisoners inflict upon each other

THEME # 4 THE IMPORTANCE OF FATHER-SON BONDS __________________________________ The relationship between Elie and his father changes throughout the memoir.

SYMBOL #1 FIRE= Cruel power of Nazis

SYMBOL #2 NIGHT=absence of God __________________________________ Darkness and Night symbolize a world without God’s presence