Dehumanization In Elie Wiesel's Night

Paulo Freire once said: “Dehumanization, although a concrete historical fact, is not a given destiny but the result of an unjust order that engenders violence in the oppressors. Which in turn dehumanizes the oppressed.” During the holocaust, the Jews, and anyone in the camps, were forced to do hard labor without any breaks, without being fed hardly any food, and in terrible conditions. They were abused, maltreated, downtrodden etc.. by the natzis, kapos, and the S.S officers. There were nuremberg laws placed on the Jews and they couldn’t do anything without being afraid of dieing. Jews were basically stripped from their human rights. In Elie Wiesel's Night, Elie tells his story and thoughts throughout his time in the ghettos and the concentration camps. He tells the decisions he had to make in order to survive, the responsibility he had for his father, and the horrid things he saw and that were done to him and his father. Elie and his father and the hundreds of thousands of Jews that were also there went through a lot during this time. And due to the violation of human rights, Jews and anyone in the camps have lost respect towards others in the camp and most have even surrendered. During these camps, the human rights of Jews were violated not only physically but also mentally. After Elie and other Jews, including his family, were placed in the ghettos, the nuremberg laws began to take place in their lives. “A jew no longer had the right to keep in his house gold, jewels or any objects of value”(pg 8). A Jew could not keep any of their prized possessions, or anything of value. People shouldn’t have to give up what is valuable to them for any reason at all. Elie’s father decided to burry their savings because he did not want them to be taken away from him. Furthermore, Elie had the misfortune of finding Idek with a young polish girl, having sexual relations, and Idek told him that he will be getting him for that. “They brought him a box. “Lie down on it”...Then I was aware of nothing but the strokes of the whip. “One...two…” Only the first ones really hurt. “Twenty-three…” Two more… “Twenty-four...twenty five!” It was over. But I had not realized it, for I had fainted”(42). Elie could've died because of all the strokes he got from the whip. This shows that no matter how old you are, you can still be punished in a really horrible way that can even kill you. The horrible way Jews were treated made them lose respect for anyone, including family. Jews were put in a train and a german officer decided to throw a piece of bread into the wagon where the hungry Jews were in, which then cause a fight. “He had a bit of bread under his shirt..The shadow threw himself upon him… “don’t you recognize me? I’m your father… you’re killing your father!... He collapsed… His son searched him, took the bread, and began to devour it...Two men had seen and hurled themselves upon him… two corpses, side by side, the father and the son” (74). Since Jews were being starved, they have became vicious creatures that didn’t mind killing family or a fellow friend for food. A son had lost all respect for his father due to his hunger and didn’t mind killing him. Moreover, Elie was searching for his father but then began to feel like he wouldn’t mind if he never found him. “ But at the same moment this thought came into my mind: “Don’t let me find him! If only …show more content…
Jews went through so much during the holocaust. It’s hard to believe that someone can be so evil to want to completely destroy a group of humans. Jews were not only tortured physically but emotionally too. Many lost their family, friends and even neighbors on the first day that they were sent to the concentration camps. Once inside these camps, Jews were just completely dehumanized. It’s surprising how many Jews survived this horrible experience. But sadly not everyone survived, and no one can ever forget this terrible time in