Night Notes Pages 34-47

Acts of Dehumanization –Nakedness –Shaved Head –Tattooed Number Humor –Ill Fitting Clothing What would ordinarily be funny is now tragic.

“The student of the Talmud, the child I was, had been consumed by the flames. All that was left was a shape that resembled me. My soul had been invaded – and devoured – by a black flame” (37). –Ellie cannot return to the child that he once was. Loss of Identity –Devoured by flame (the same flame that killed Elie’s God, Soul, and Hope)

“My father had just been struck, in front of me, and I had not even blinked. I had watched and kept silent. Only yesterday I would have dug my nails into the criminal’s flesh. Had I changed so much?” (39) –Elie is changed by horrific events. –Silence (allows negative events to happen) –Hints at the breakdown of familial bonds. Red mark on father’s face –Symbol of violence and inhumanity

Block Leader –Human Words Message – faith and hope are necessary to overcome adversity. Soup –Pg. 42 – Won’t eat soup –Pg. 43 – Gladly eats soup (a few days later) Stein –His breakdown shows the connection between family, hope, and the ability to survive the concentration camps.

“As for me, I had ceased to pray. I concurred with Job! I was not denying His existence, but I doubted His absolute justice” (45). –Loss of Faith Confusion –What God would allow these catastrophic events to take place? –Elie’s former life is over.

“How we [my father and I] would like to have believed that [my mother and sister were still alive]. We pretended, for what if one of us still did believe? (46) –We lie to each other to protect each other. –Need for hope is vital in order to survive the camps.