on page 6-7 Moishe and Beadle start telling the Jews story about brutality and cruelity.
If you are Wiesel would you have believed or listened in Moishe's tales?
If I was Wiesel I wouldn't have believed in the tales however I would have listened to them, for it seemed very important for them that their tales are heard, for them to tell someone.
If some one came to you to tell you sad stories about death would you have believed him? When you have lived in peace and has never experianced cruelity or war.
Why didn't Wiesel believed Moishe. Is it because he lived in such a happy community that such cruelness seem impossible?
Sometimes, when the truth is too bizzare and extreme, the human mind simply cannot accept it. Rather, the brain finds a much better alternative in denying it, such as stating that the source is "mad".
If a loved one suddenly died, the human brain will first dismiss the person's grim report, and after that effect wears off, the victim then begins to live in denial. They often wander in a trance-like mental state, and wonder if the world is a dream.
Basically, if someone went up to you and said, "The world is going to end tomorrow, seriously, would you believe him?" Most likely, we would go, "yeah, sure. Now leave me alone. Wouldn't you?
My question: Even though Moishe's words were dismissed, the arrival of Germans and the increasingly limitating laws should have sounded the warning bell. Why didn't Wiesel's family escape?
The events sound like "warning bells" to us, but it probably did not for those Jews in that period. They were confident that this was just deportation to factories or relocation. The Germans arrived peacefully so there was nothing for them to fear. Even when laws tightened, I doubt it credible for them to imagine such horrible death camps (obviously the operations were kept secret). Even with earlier warnings such as Moishe's, I think it was disbelief that took over them. Disbelief that such horrible things could happen to humanity for this was unexpected and beyond human imagination. No one could have expected such atrocities at that scale. Additionally, I believe that the Jews were extremely confident about their faith even to the very end. They were persecuted from early in the history and they kept to their faith.
What i believe makes this so interesting is the situational irony/ dramatic irony which inevitably turns out to be their doom. What makes the book so sad is the loss of opportunities and chances when they could have avoided this disaster. Disbelief was what led them to disaster.
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My question: What kept morale high for the Jews? What was the drive in their inner beliefs that gave them hope? What kept up their morale even when things turned bad?
On page 15 (my version of the book is the smaller kind), the book says "They went by, fallen, dragging their packs, draggind their lives, deserting their homes, the years of their childhood, cringing like beaten dogs."
If you've noticed, the author occasionally uses the word, "night." He repeats the word a couple of times. What is the significance of that word? Why is the book title called "Night" when night doesn't have anything to do the Jews and Nazis?
Chuni: The Jews in the story pray to God. They attend synagogues to maintain their strong faith in God. They believe in the exitence of God, causing them to be hopeful. They believe that God can help solve their problems. on page 17 (I have the older version of the story), it says "Oh God, Lord of the Universe, take pity upon us in Thy great mercy." Readers can infer that the people in the story believe that God can solve problems.
Andrew: Wiesel probably didn’t believe Moishe because of the life he was living now. Such situations where people are stripped from their homes and shot into trenches they dug were just too radical. He was so used to living in comfort knowing that the Germans had no chance of advancing into his town. “Splendid news from the Russian Front. There could no longer be any doubt; Germany would be defeated. It was only a matter of time, months or weeks, perhaps. Wiesel and everyone else believed in this news. They thought that the Germans wouldn’t be able to come over and attack them. They probably trusted the media more than a poor man living on the streets. This ignorance lead to them being taken away and tortured but the evidence wasn’t strong enough to forewarn them.
Question: When their former maid gave them the chance to escape what was their reason for not taking it?
My question: Even though Moishe's words were dismissed, the arrival of Germans and the increasingly limitating laws should have sounded the warning bell. Why didn't Wiesel's family escape?
The Wiesel’s family was about to emigrate away just to flee from the disaster, however the trip was very costly, and when Elie asked his father to liquidate everything, sell everything, and leave to Palestine, however his father answered that “he is too old to start a new life.” Moishie’s words were not yet believed, because he was a shy outcast, so everyone thought that he only sought for pity and attention. The increasing laws have sounded as warning bells, however the Wiesel’s family still doubts about the cruelty of the Germans since they had given a good impression.
Question: Why is the title called, “Night”? The word, “night”, had been mentioned a few times in chapter one? What is the connection between night and the situation the Jews are facing?
After reading the first chapter I have realized that Elie is a very religious boy who enjoys studying the Talmud and likes spending time at the temple talking to Moshe the Beadle. Although Elie’s father thinks that he is too young to study religious texts, Elie still strongly thinks that religious study can give him faith and energy. I think at this point Elie is still naïve, but has strong faith. In the beginning the Jews were fooled by their own optimism which led to their ignorance of Moshe’s warning about the news of the German invasion of Hungary. If the Jews had believed in Moshe they would probably had a chance to escape, but on the other hand it is unrealistic to think in this perspective because if I was one of the Jews, I would definitely think he is insane. Because of the everyday peace, normally people wouldn’t think of such big issues coming to real life, so naturally we ignore the warnings that may have been the chance to save your own life; this is an example of chance. On page 21, "These optimistic speeches, which no one believed, helped to pass the time," demonstrates that the optimism of the Jewish people was just a way to survive the harsh condition, the Jews must keep hope if they want to survive.
Question: Will Elie attitude towards religion and god change in the following chapters?
A question I had after reading section one of Night was why were they all so optimistic? Optimism was reiterated throughout this section. Even under the threat of being murdered, they adapted to their new lives. The Jews remained joyous and happy. I think it is related to their religion, because the Jews think that God is all-powerful and omnibenevolence. The Jews did not realize the threat of the Nazis until they actually experience the pain. Moshe, for example, was joyous and optimistic like the others, but after he was almost murdered by the Gestapo, he “no longer had any joy in his eyes. He no longer sang. He no longer talked to me of God or of the cabbala, but only of what he had seen.” This is like when you think the test is easy and when you actually take it, you fail.
ANDREW: If I was a Jew in that situation, I wouldn't necessarily believe what they said. First of all, I would believe and God and believe that He wouldn't allow that kind of thing to happen on us Jews. What Beadle said was just too bizarre and it seemed too brutal. The situation of leave their homes and digging their own graves were too unreal and impossible for the Jews. The Jews also received news that the Nazis weren't going to come, so they believed that and put what Beadle said aside. Because they were so ignorant, all the Jews were captured and sent to concentration camp.
Why didn't they accept Martha, their old servants, offer to hide them in her village? In the book, it says that it is because their family refused to be separated. I think that it is also because they did not know how awful the camps were. When Moshe the Beadle warned them about making them dig their own graves, they didn't believe him. I think that they didn't believe him because the Germans were actually pretty polite, and "even smiled occasionally at the mistress of the house." They probably just thought that he was trying to make them pity him. I find this sad because if they listened to Moshe and accepted Martha's offer, then they could've escaped.
Ted Wu- Why is the title called, “Night”? The word, “night”, had been mentioned a few times in chapter one? What is the connection between night and the situation the Jews are facing?
I think the author used "Night" as a symbol of the increasing desperateness and fear that the Jews are facing when they are deported. It can also symbolize the evil and the dark side of the Nazis. As the Nazis slowly take away all the joy, light, and hope, of the Jews, it will show the dark side of human and the natural evil side within every human. Like Lord of the Flies.
I think that his father would do this is because he doesn't want to take advantages from other people. He just wants to be a person who doesn't rely on other people. Also, he doesn't believe Moshe's story and this tells us that he thinks that his family will be safe, even when the Nazis come. Of course after what happened in the story we know that his decision was a tragedy, but if we were in his shoes at that time many people would also reject the chance.
Q: After Moshe come back, he wept. what kind of person do you think Moshe is? The kind of person who tear for his country, or people who tear for himself?
Andrew: I think Wiesel didn’t believe Moshe the Beadle because he wasn’t used to Moshe being pessimistic. Moshe has always been talking about God and deep ideas and Wiesel has been living in a comfortable society, so Wiesel didn’t believe what Moshe said. Like Weifan mentioned, it was hard to accept something suddenly. I think it would be hard for anyone to accept something that they’re not used to. After the Fascists attacked the Jews in Budapest, they became aware of the situation but they still chose to be optimistic and thought that the Germans would “stay in Budapest.” It is difficult for people to believe something else all of a sudden, but when they witness the situation, they will make up an excuse to get it over with.
Response, Elie Wiesel had a lot of chance to escape, he could’ve left with the former maid Maria, or left from the unguarded houses but he didn’t. If I was Elie Wiesel, I would’ve been scared and left with the maid along with my family or just escape. I don’t know why Elie Wiesel didn’t take his chance. Is it because he didn’t know what was coming? But from how they soldiers treat them he should’ve know it wasn’t good. Did they seriously think they were on a vacation? why are they so happy?
Ted: I think that the title of the book is "Night" for many reasons. The author probably uses the word night to try to portray how the Jews feel. Little children are always afraid of darkness and night. They believe that nighttime is when all the ghosts and evil monsters come out to attack them. Night is the time that the children don't want to face; it is their darkest fear. The Jews' darkest fear at this stage is being deported by the Germans to the concentration camps, where they will probably be killed. Going to the concentration camp is entering nighttime, while being in the city is being in daytime. Going on the train is dusk, when the Jews must prepare themselves for the night that is coming. The connection is that the Jews at that stage in time were going through the night; they were being massacred in concentration camps with seemingly no end. If we are scared at night and we can't sleep, the night takes a long time to pass because it remains night for around 8-10 hours. We can't wait for it to pass, but we can't do anything about our fear. The Jews are unable to do anything about their current situation except to wait for it to be over, as a scared child can only wait for the night to end so they can wake up into daytime. Also, at nighttime, it is always dark outside. Darkness always symbolizes fear or uncertainty. When it is dark outside, we feel less certain about ourselves and much more afraid because we cannot see. If we cannot see what is going on around us, then we are afraid of what we don't expect to happen. We are afraid of getting waylaid by odd people on the streets and the like. The Jews right now have no idea where they are going. They are just following orders "in the dark". They have no idea where they are going, but they still follow it because they fear the alternative of not following these orders. However, they are scared because they don't know what is going to happen, and they are proceeding without any knowledge.
My question Why do you think Wiesel's father didn't want to escape? They had a great chance to escape definite suffering for sure, but Wiesel's father rejected the chance. What do you think makes him do this? Why do you think the others follow him even though they probably want to escape?
Why does the author use Eliezer as the narrator's name and not Wiesel? There are also a few differences between Wiesel and Eliezer in the book. Why does Weisel make slight differences between him and Eliezer, the narrator?
I think they did not escape mainly because they could not. The Germans had surrounded the Jews, and plus they were easily identified. Then, there could have been a possibility that Wiesel's family could of wanted to stay in their cozy home, just one day longer and another day because this little house of theirs probably meant a lot to their history and past lifetimes.
My Question:
When the Germans first arrived, many of the Jews thought optimistically since they were such "fine gentlemen" and that they had manners. Why do the Germans treat them so well, even though the fate that the Jews will be deported is acknowledged in their minds?
"They called him Moshe the Beadle, as though he had never had a surname in his life... He was a past master in the art of making himself insignificant, of seeming invisible." What is the significance of Elie Wiesel introducing the story with the character of Moshe the Beadle? What does Wiesel mean by Moshe being a past "master" of making himself "insignificant"? How does Moshe foreshadow what is to come?
*note: is it just me, or do people have books with Moshe typed Moishe?
andrew: If you were Wiesel, what would you think of Moshe the Beadle's tales?
On one hand, before Moishe was taken, he is somewhat of a mentor to the twelve-year-old Eliezer. On the other, no one else believes the pauper, including his family - and at twelve, many of your thoughts are still biased by what your parents say (which isn't necessarily in a negative tone, but it is true in most cases).
Besides, the stories are too appalling to believe. If I were Eliezer, I would start to become a little wary of the guy. Either I'd think he was exaggerating, perhaps it still remains part truth, or - like the rest of the town - I'd think he finally snapped, that things like that would never happen in such a place with new technology and strong civilisation ideas. I think it's rather sad how that is though. If Moishe was a much more prominent person in society - high-ranking and known to be trustworthy, it most certainly would have been a different case if he came back and started telling people the same story he did (although he probably wouldn't be taken away as a foreign Jew if that were the case).
Why didn't they go with Martha to a place where they might could safe? Why risk going to wherever the officers were taking them? Even though in the book, it says that the family did not want to be separated, why didn't the whole family just go together?
If I were Elie I would have believed Moishe because he was a friend and I've had known him for a while. He was the man that had taught me the Kabbalah when my dad had tried to discourage me. I had believed in him for a reason, so why should I have stopped just because what he was telling was something I didn't want to hear? He was the man that the people of Sighet loved, why would he lie to get sympathy?
It wasn't as if he didn't explain to me why he was telling everyone about what had happened. He didn't tell the stories to freak people out. Everyone in Sighet was too overly optimistic, whenever they heard bad news, they quickly dismissed it with an excuse, and life continued as usual. Moishe knew that no matter what news people heard from the radio, they wouldn't believe it. He had came back to warn the people so they could escape in time.
I think the Germans were polite because they were brought up that way, and had to reason to be mean and rude to the Jews. They probably only killed the Jews and took the Jews away because they were ordered to do so. The officers are human, they should have sympathy, so I don't think they can be mean to the Jews, knowing what they have to do with them in just a few short days.
Response to Andrew: I think that Wiesel's family didnt think that the Germans would really hurt them. Afterall, who would expect a human being to do such cruel, unjust things as the Nazi's did? Wiesel's family probably just thought that the rumors were "rumors".
albert: i think that the officers were polite because they didn't want the Jews to start thinking something bad might be happening. they started out polite to deceive them and that way, it would've been easier to deport all of them because there wouldn't be a huge fuss.
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Why does no one believe Moishe's story? He was taken from Sighet because he was a foreign Jew and he amazingly came back with a wound to the leg. And yet, none of the Jews believed that the Germans had killed people.
In the first chapter, Wiesel had emphasized the chances they had to escape the coming horror, “At that time, it was still possible to obtain emigration permits…I had asked my father to sell out, liquidate his business, and leave,” “If he had spoken to us that evening, we could perhaps have fled…it was too late.” How miserable he must have felt when he was at a concentration camp, thinking of all the opportunities they had to escape, all the chances they had forgone.
However, if I had been in his position, I doubt I could have done better. Thinking from his and his family’s point of view, of course the Germans would not attack. It would have been as unimaginable for me as it had been for them. The warnings were only quiet hints; hints that are only obvious and blaringly clear afterwards- after all, hindsight is 20/20.
They had lived a comfortable life, and the way of the concentrations camps could only have appeared in nightmares. When the nightmare had come true, what else could they have done but try to cling on to the hope that a miracle would happen, it would all turn out to be an illusion?
I doubt that anyone, if they had truly been in Wiesel’s position, would have been able to pay heed to the warnings.
Why Eliezer's family didn't accept Martha's offer to escape, hide to the Martha's village?
It's quite confusing that they will probaly die if they dont escape, because the Nazi German will shoot them, send them to the concentration camps, enslave them. Even though Eliezer family have escape to Martha's village, the Hungarian Police will still seeking for Jewish citizens. Although family is always stand first, but still they need to know that surviving is still important.
Bess, For the first seven days, the guard didn’t hurt them as they heard from others, so they got hopeful that the rest of what they heard wasn’t true also. They didn’t know what they were going to face so they were more optimistic so everybody might be more hopeful. They sort of picked to ignore the fact that they were in trouble.
Chuni: There hope comes from their God. They still believe in God and that God will provide them safety. In the story they attend synagogues and keep their strong beliefs in their god and religion. They also believe that God will be their solution to this problem and that he will save them from the Germans
My question is why didn'y Wiesel's family and all the people in the town believed Moishe and Beadle's story? If they had listened to them, maybe they could escape earlier, and don't get caught by the German.
Why didn't Wiesel believe Moishe and Beadle's story?
TO JENNIFER: I think as the story progressly continue, Elie's attitude toward religion will change because of the German. They will deeply affect Elie's thaught.
Why didn't they go with Martha to a place where they might could safe? Why risk going to wherever the officers were taking them? Even though in the book, it says that the family did not want to be separated, why didn't the whole family just go together?
They didn't go with martha to a place where they might be safe because they wanted to remain together as a family. The family went whereever the officers took them because they didn't want any trouble from disobeying them. The family wanted to stay together for as long as possible.
Why were the Jew so happy even after their lives were at stake? Does this have to do with beliving in God?
Andrew, I think the reason that Wiesel didn't believe Moshe was because he was not prepared to accept the change, not because he was unaware of the cruelty. Sometimes when we hear of life-changing news, we do not readily accept or believe it. Instead, we try to avoid the truth as if the event, no matter how inevitable it really is, will never happen.
If I was in Wiesel’s place, I would have believed Moshe immediately. He noticed that “Moshe had changed. There was no longer any joy in his eyes. He no longer sang. He no longer talked to [Wiesel] of God or of the cabbala, but only of what he had seen.” (pg 4) Such a change would have made me realize the horrifying experience Moshe must have gone through, and that his stories were warnings, not just a fool’s tale.
When the “race toward death” first began, did Wiesel think millions of Jews would die as a result?
Pg. 11: "The yellow star? So what? It's not lethal..." (Poor Father! Of what then did you die?)
If Wiesel's father actually believed there was danger, as was suggested, why didn't he try to escape? Why did he just spread false hopes? It wasn't really helpful, since the persecution and deportation still happened.
Jasmine: I think the word "night" might refer to the despair the Jews feel. It can be like being in eternal darkness, with nothing to comfort you.
Why didn't they listen to Moshe after he came back? After all, he had the evidence of a wound. Do humans really reject words they don't want to hear? Isn't it funny - they could have saved their own lives. Why? Did they just not want to face the fact that that might be the truth?
Many people asked about why they didn't accept their servant's author. I think his family didn't want to drag her down the drain along with them, as it is none of her business. Their ignorance caused their own demise, they are too naive
My question was why were the Jews not at all scared of the Germans? In most of the front part of the story, The Jews were not scared of the Germans coming because they thought the Russian Red Army was coming. But even after it was told that and the Jews saw the Germans coming, they were still not afriad, they always tried to be postitive. Why?
elissa: if I were Wiesel, I think I would half believe him but stay doubtful. True, the stories are insanely cruel almost to the point of unrealistic (throwing babies into the air and using them as gun targets?). But Moshe had changed so much... his wound, his demeanor, almost everything about him. That would be enough to set the wheel of suspicion in my mind, and I would go consult with others and argue my point, to see what they thought of it. Most people would probably think Moshe was crazy, though. Unless I came upon a paranoid extremist.
“Yet we still were not worried. Of course we had heard of the Fascists, but it was all in the abstract. It meant nothing more to us than a change of ministry.”—page 9. We were once all young and little. When we were little kids, we never really understood what sorrow and grief were. We only knew that it meant sadness from dictionaries and definitions given by our teachers. However, we had never really experienced it before, therefore it was all abstract. In the year 2003, my grandfather passed away. I was old enough to understand what sorrow was. In my grandfather’s room in the hospital were my relatives and I, we were all crying for my grandfather’s pass-away and remembering all the nice memories we had with him. My feelings cannot be described in a few words. I now understand what sorrow is, but not fully. I will be experiencing more and more situations and life experiences in my lifetime and will be learning more about sorrow and grief. In the novel, Night, Elie Wiesel never knew what Fascism would do to them until he really experienced it. There are just some things in our life that we will never understand unless we experience it by ourselves.
Demi: I think why they didn't follow Martha to her house was because his father believed they were being sent away for their won good so he didn't want to take the offer. The father does not know that they are going to be sent to concentration camps and be tortured so he did not think going to hide at Martha house was necessary. Martha offered Eliezer and his older sisters to go and that she would stay with his parents, meaning they wouldn't see their parent and since Eliezer is only 12 he still clings to his parents a lot. Also their whole family has no clue where they are going so a family would naturally stay together under parent’s protection.
Question: Throughout the beginning the people we optimistic over everything even if there were signs of evilness, even when they were being sent away to some unknown area they still think "perhaps we are being deported for our own good"(18). Why do you think they always have an optimistic perspective over things?
Angela: I don't think Wiesel thought about about millions of people being killed because he was oblivious about what the Germans were planning. At that time, he thought they were just being deported, they never thought they were going to get killed. They were all happy with what they were given and death was not on anyone's mind. I think the "race towards death" is what he sees today, not what he had foresaw as a child.
To Jasper Louh: I think Wiesel’s father didn’t want to escape with Martha because just like the book said, he didn’t want to be separated with his family. I think he is a very loyal and reasonable person. He denied the chance of being free: free from the wrath of the German soldiers, and traded that luxury to stay with his family: to endure the pain that his family would take eventually, together.
To Andrew: I think if I were in Wiesel’s position, I would have definite believed in Moishe’s tales. Since I have been with him for such a long time and learned so much from him, I would definitely know when he was lying or when he was saying the truth. When he talked about what had happened in the camp, I definitely believe him because what he said was exactly what the German’s would’ve done. On the other hand, he had completely no gain if he lied. The only thing people would do is have pity for him, nothing else.
Question: What do you think the "night" symbolizes in the story. Does it have a special meaning? Or is it just a time when they sit still and pray?
"Our old servant, Martha, came to see us. Weeping bitterly, she begged us to come to her village, where she could give us a safe refuge. My father did not want to hear of it." (page 18)
Why didn't they accept and go with their servant? Couldn't they tell that something was wrong? From this quote it seemed like the servant knew something that no one knows, or why else would she be "weeping bitterly"? Why didn't she tell them what she knows? I don't think it's because she was sad and was crying because they were leaving, in the book it said that she wanted to give them a safe refuge. It means that no one else knows about what's going on, or why would they want to go to the camps and end up getting killed? Didn't they think it was strange that the Germams were acting so "calm, likable, polite, sympathetic."? (page 7) And when they already heard about "The Jews in Budapest are living in an atmosphere of fear and terror.There are anti-Semitic incidents everyday, in the streets, in the trains. The Fascists are attacking Jewsish shops and synagogues. The situation is very serious." (page 7), why didn't they sense that something was not right?
rJasmine: When god first begins his creations, the earth is "without form and void and darkness upon the face of the deep", so I think night symbolizes a work without god's presence. It shows the depth of Nazi's evil side, which is Hell, as opposed to Heaven.
My Question: Is the story not only about Nazi vs. Jews, but also about faith and God? “Oh God, Lord of the Universe, take pity upon us….” Will their faith to their Lord affect the way they end up in the Nazi Era?
Fernando, I think Eliezer's family didn't accept their maid Martha's offer to hide out because they thought that it would all be over soon, that it wasn't for real, that they would be coming back. Also, they had their pride and wanted to keep it; to seek shelter from their own maid would sort of be like degrading themselves, to them. However, if they had done so it would probably have been the best decision.
I don't really have a question, I just wanted to say that the author starts off this first chapter in a light and airy tone, as if he is sitting back watching it all unfold and no harm will come for real. It was probably the take on things he had at the time, and I think it really conveys the sense that the Jews had in their ignorance that everything was going to be fine and that they were in no imminent danger. Unfortunately, they were wrong, and though they could have heeded the warnings and fled, they didn't and ended up suffering.
In page 11, it emphasizes the word “normal”, what does it mean by normal. Like how their life was getting in peace or calm? What does this mean? In page 12, it says, “ But apart from that, the atmosphere was oddly peaceful and reassuring.” Does this quote connect to the question that I just asked? Or is it talking about some other thing?
In this novel, Night, I can easily imagine the scene of the story. The way Wiesel describes the scene, where they are leaving their house; it feels actuality. Also the part where the main character feels the hatred toward the Hungarian Police. Not only it feels realistic but also showing the faith in the characters’ mind and non-giving up thoughts, like the main character’s mother. In the novel, obviously pray takes a very important role of the novel. They all have to pray, not only it’s important to them, but its like their daily bases.
Throughout the first chapter, Elie Wiesel told us about his wise friend Moshe the Beadle. Moshe has been a extraordinary teacher whom has revealed great knowledge and understanding of the world, God, and faith to Elie. A few months later, Jews were expelled from the region. Moshe was one of the Jews who were taken away, and later on one of the very few that escaped from Germans. After returning to the town, he informed the Jews about the horrifying things the German polices are planning to do. People didn’t believe him and thought of him as a lunatic. My question is: Why didn’t anyone believe Moshe? Hasn’t he proved that he is worthy of being trusted, especially towards Elie?
Andrew:If you are Wiesel would you have believed or listened in Moishe's tales?
Response: I wouldn't have believed the stories at first, but since these tales were coming from someone so wise, I guess it would sound very convincing and realistic.
Why did the Hungaron goverment agree to transport them to suh a cruel palce? or they didn't know what was doing to the Jews, but then why were they so cruel?
Jasmine: If you've noticed, the author occasionally uses the word, "night." He repeats the word a couple of times. What is the significance of that word? Why is the book title called "Night" when night doesn't have anything to do the Jews and Nazis?
Since the Jews are killed in this story, I think the author uses the word night to portray the depression that the Jews feel. The word night also gives me a sense that since lots of Jews have died, it seems like the author is trying to use it like they’re sleeping through the night, even though they’re already dead.
Umm my question is the same as the other people. Why are the Jews optimistic at first and why didn’t they believe in Moshe the Beadle after he was captured and got free?
to Wei-fan they were warned but they didn't know what was happening, it just happend all so soon, and that people like stable places, they would stay in the same place if possible.
Why do the German officers wait until after the week of Passover to start enforcing new rules and arresting people? They could have just started doing all that stuff when they arrived. Do they want to give the Jews a sense of hope? Do the officers want to grant them happiness before they ruin their lives? What are the intentions behind their actions?
From the very start of the story, the Jews were all very optimistic about certain things. They were optimistic that the Russians would win. They were sure that the German Army would come to Sighet. And they were positive that the German Army which arrived are not cruel people, and would treat them nicely.
If the people of Sighet were much more pessimistic about the matter, would they have fled? Would that have prevented them from being caught by the German's?
Jasper: I think he refused to escape because it was too much of a change in too short of an amount of time to handle. One day he has nothing to worry about, happy with his life, and the next he's being deported. If I was in his position, I'm pretty sure it would take me a while to accept the fact that my life was ruined. So, he probably didn't want to admit that the life he was once content with was falling to pieces. Also, believing in God, Wiesel's father might not have believed that He would allow this to happen to them. Imagine being rich beyond your imagination. Then imagine your parents telling you that your family was bankrupt. At first, you would probably deny it, hoping that it wasn't true. Similar to the way Wiesel's neighbor wished Wiesel was playing a prank on him as he woke him in the middle of the night. In my opinion, Wiesel stayed with his father because he thought families should stick together.
No offense to the Japanese or the Germans, but I think they're pretty sadistic people.. Doesn't the guilt of killing millions of other human beings just overwhelm you? I mean, won't you feel that guilt knawing away your soul? How can you live with such a guilty conscience? Frankly, I think itss pretty scary. The German soldiers even acted nice to the people of Sighet at first. Doesn't it just make them appear was even more cruel people that way? It's just like Jack playing with his prey. He tortures the pig first before he actually kills it. Another question I have is (although it does not directly refer to the book), what did the Germans do with the Germans who were against Nazism? Were they killed as well?
I found the beginning of the story dramatically ironic. When I read about Moshe the Beadle, I was like...dude! you ppl should listen to Moshe! Readers would already know that the Jewish people should've fled the moment Moshe came back and warned them. We knew that something that the characters didnt know, which is why its dramatically ironic. Being a somewhat "paranoid" person, If i were the author, I would've listened to Moshe's warning and fled.
ted wu: I belive that the author chose the title "Night" because the first words that may come up into your mind when someone says night are probably "darkness, fear of dark, no sunlight...etc." The first part of book describes how the Jews are suffering under the strict laws and the arrival of Germans. If the book was called "day" it probably would be a boring story about happiness/ utopia. It is the "night" that sets up the conflict in the story.
albert: Like Demi said, I think the officers were ordered to kill the Jews. However, it is possible that they are just trying to hold a better reputation. The Germans are unable to step into the Jews' shoes, since they aren't treated with disrespect or harshness. page 21: "...People rather got along. There no longer was any distinction between rich and poor, notables and others; we were all people condemned to the same fate..." This quote brings a sense of humanity into the story. If the Germans were part of the group condmened into the same fate, I believe that they would get along with the Jews, without any discrimination.
Question: (1) What is the "yellow star" on page 11? (2) Where do you think the Jews might be heading?
"Night. No one prayed, so that the night would pass quickly. The stars were only sparks of the fire which devoured us. Should that fire die out one day, there would be nothing left in the sky but dead stars, dead eyes." In the first 1-22 pages, Night is emphasized and repeated over and over. It is also the title of the book. What do you think night symbolizes, up to this point?
I think night symbolizes the darkness and fear within all of the people. When night comes, everyone's fear and uncertainty is amplified. With the arrival of night, gone is the safety and assurance of daylight. The sun washed away the unknown of the night, while darkness brings back the horror and terrors within oneself.
ROBERT: I agree with youthat their optimism has to with their religion. Non-religious people wouldn’t be so optimistic, since they don’t really have anything to give them hope. But, religious people would be more optimistic because their religion grants them hope; they believe that God will help them. This is probably the reason why the Jews were so optimistic, even when the German troops entered the Hungarian territory. When the news of the Germans invading the Hungarian territory, the Jews revived their optimism, “The Germans won’t get as far as this. They’ll stay in Budapest. There are strategic and political reasons….”(Wiesel,7)
Quote response chapter 1 “He explained to me, with great emphasis, that every question possessed a power that was lost in the answer...”(5) I have been told many times in my life that the best and most meaningful questions cannot be answered. The best example I know is that question about life: What is the purpose of life? I think the power that Moishe said questions had was the power of how unanswered questions often leave us puzzled and make us want to find the answer. This way we don’t forget about it. But for questions with an easy answer, we often forget about it as soon as it is answered. That is why the power is lost when the answer is found.
In this part of the novel, I've become more depress by the minute the story goes on. Especially when Moishe comes back and tell everyone of what's happening to them, and the group that has been sent away a week ago. Because people here heard that those who have moved out had a great life there, and had a job too. But its actually a trap where they were sent to the death concentration camp. I've become depress when no one believe and refuse what Moishe said, especially when he mentions death. In my own experience, things like this happen, but it's nothing big. But people usually won't believe you because of either from what they heard or receiving a note from someone saying something which is false but were believe to be true. They never really give in and believe what you said. Another point is, the author point out, Moishe did not have the strength to drag himself all the way back to the Jews that did get capture yet. God gave him the strength, and that was miracles. Miracles can happen, but there are many people, who are blindfold and did not believe.
To Hannah: If I told you that I've had surgery three times, would you believe me? Well, maybe you would (and it's true by the way), but that's beside the point. What I'm trying to say is, what Moishe tried to tell the others was so radical, it would be very hard to believe. I don't that that even Wiesel believed him, just as most probably wouldn't agree to saying that our previous president was a good guy, but let's not get into politics.
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My question: Why didn't Wiesel's father have the whole family go to the safety shelter that their previous maid set up? If I were them, I would gladly take the offer than live in a ghetto.
If you really think about it, the Germans dont really have a point in hating the jews. The only reason why they hate the jews is because hitler, or someone, came up with a theory that jews were bad and that they are of the lower level, which is not true. This type of racism is often seen throughout history. They type that has no reason, just pure twisted hate. My only question is why do people come up with these ideas that other races or different types of people are lower kind than them? Why do they think this way? Is it to hide their own shame? Or do they really hate them for some unknown reason.
I think that the people in Sighet don't truly think that they are completely out of harm's way. THey are most likely in a state of deep hallucinatory denial. I mean, the people of Sighet aren't idiotic, they can see the truth in Moishe's words. However, they don't want to believe that they can be rounded up and killed at any given moment. I understand that not all German soldiers are inherently evil, which is probably why the German officers boarded in Sighet are so civil and polite. Or it could be just an act, to instill false confidence and hope, and a sense of ease.
To Jennifer: I agree with you. night here symbolizes, to me, a sense of slow, prolonged torture. Each moment spent in night is another living moment, but as each moment passes, you are one step closer to death, which comes in the morning. It's like when they said, on page 21 (large book), "no one was praying for the night to pass quickly.
Chuni~ When people believe in a religion, they will rely on their god. So like Jews they believe that god will save them from all their troubles. And to maintain that, they pray and attend synagogues and other religious events
When the Germans first arrived, many of the Jews thought optimistically since they were such "fine gentlemen" and that they had manners. Why do the Germans treat them so well, even though the fate that the Jews will be deported is acknowledged in their minds?
A: The Germans set out to exterminate Jews from their world, to keep out the undesirables, and to exercise their control over those ‘lesser races’. However, they don’t wish for the Jews to fight back, which would hurt the superior Germans, so they trick them into believing that they are there to help the Jews. This way, it will be easier for them to fall into their death traps, as the Jews would trust them by then. I don’t believe that the Germans were sincere. They just put on an act so there would be less resistance when they rounded them up. Maybe it was also an amusement to them, where they would trick the Jews into trusting them before shattering all their hopes when their real duty surfaced. Of course, they weren’t all cruel soldiers, and many, knowing the fate of the Jews, would have wanted to give them some peace before all was changed, to lessen their suffering by just a little without disobeying orders. I think that the first reason is the most possible, but it would have been nice if the last reason was the main motive the Germans had for being gentlemanly to Jews.
Q: Ironically, Elie and his family had numerous chances to go free before they were rounded up the Nazis, but because of their fear and suspicion, their chance at freedom left them, even when those who wanted to help them were friends, What does this show about the human nature when a person is afraid and doesn’t know who to trust?
“Night no one prayed, so that the night would pass quickly. The stars were only sparks of the fire which devoured us. Should that fire die out one day, there would be nothing left in the sky but dead starts, dead eyes.” (pg. 18) They don’t want the next day to come and over here, night represents prolong, letting them live throughout the night, but when the next day comes, who knows what’s going to happen. The next day might be the day that you die. When it’s night time, they can not be killed but once night passes, who knows.
Chuni: I agree with Daisy, when you believe in a religion, you believe that that particular God can save you from all your troubles, and help you with everything. Thus, you go to churches such as synagogue so you can be closer him. You’ll believe that he has everything planned out for you with the best outcome.
79 comments:
on page 6-7 Moishe and Beadle start telling the Jews story about brutality and cruelity.
If you are Wiesel would you have believed or listened in Moishe's tales?
If I was Wiesel I wouldn't have believed in the tales however I would have listened to them, for it seemed very important for them that their tales are heard, for them to tell someone.
If some one came to you to tell you sad stories about death would you have believed him? When you have lived in peace and has never experianced cruelity or war.
Why didn't Wiesel believed Moishe. Is it because he lived in such a happy community that such cruelness seem impossible?
Andrew,
Sometimes, when the truth is too bizzare and extreme, the human mind simply cannot accept it. Rather, the brain finds a much better alternative in denying it, such as stating that the source is "mad".
If a loved one suddenly died, the human brain will first dismiss the person's grim report, and after that effect wears off, the victim then begins to live in denial. They often wander in a trance-like mental state, and wonder if the world is a dream.
Basically, if someone went up to you and said, "The world is going to end tomorrow, seriously, would you believe him?" Most likely, we would go, "yeah, sure. Now leave me alone. Wouldn't you?
My question:
Even though Moishe's words were dismissed, the arrival of Germans and the increasingly limitating laws should have sounded the warning bell. Why didn't Wiesel's family escape?
In response to Weifan,
The events sound like "warning bells" to us, but it probably did not for those Jews in that period. They were confident that this was just deportation to factories or relocation. The Germans arrived peacefully so there was nothing for them to fear. Even when laws tightened, I doubt it credible for them to imagine such horrible death camps (obviously the operations were kept secret). Even with earlier warnings such as Moishe's, I think it was disbelief that took over them. Disbelief that such horrible things could happen to humanity for this was unexpected and beyond human imagination. No one could have expected such atrocities at that scale. Additionally, I believe that the Jews were extremely confident about their faith even to the very end. They were persecuted from early in the history and they kept to their faith.
What i believe makes this so interesting is the situational irony/ dramatic irony which inevitably turns out to be their doom. What makes the book so sad is the loss of opportunities and chances when they could have avoided this disaster. Disbelief was what led them to disaster.
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My question:
What kept morale high for the Jews? What was the drive in their inner beliefs that gave them hope? What kept up their morale even when things turned bad?
On page 15 (my version of the book is the smaller kind), the book says "They went by, fallen, dragging their packs, draggind their lives, deserting their homes, the years of their childhood, cringing like beaten dogs."
If you've noticed, the author occasionally uses the word, "night." He repeats the word a couple of times. What is the significance of that word? Why is the book title called "Night" when night doesn't have anything to do the Jews and Nazis?
Chuni: The Jews in the story pray to God. They attend synagogues to maintain their strong faith in God. They believe in the exitence of God, causing them to be hopeful. They believe that God can help solve their problems. on page 17 (I have the older version of the story), it says "Oh God, Lord of the Universe, take pity upon us in Thy great mercy." Readers can infer that the people in the story believe that God can solve problems.
Andrew: Wiesel probably didn’t believe Moishe because of the life he was living now. Such situations where people are stripped from their homes and shot into trenches they dug were just too radical. He was so used to living in comfort knowing that the Germans had no chance of advancing into his town.
“Splendid news from the Russian Front. There could no longer be any doubt; Germany would be defeated. It was only a matter of time, months or weeks, perhaps. Wiesel and everyone else believed in this news. They thought that the Germans wouldn’t be able to come over and attack them. They probably trusted the media more than a poor man living on the streets. This ignorance lead to them being taken away and tortured but the evidence wasn’t strong enough to forewarn them.
Question: When their former maid gave them the chance to escape what was their reason for not taking it?
My question:
Even though Moishe's words were dismissed, the arrival of Germans and the increasingly limitating laws should have sounded the warning bell. Why didn't Wiesel's family escape?
The Wiesel’s family was about to emigrate away just to flee from the disaster, however the trip was very costly, and when Elie asked his father to liquidate everything, sell everything, and leave to Palestine, however his father answered that “he is too old to start a new life.” Moishie’s words were not yet believed, because he was a shy outcast, so everyone thought that he only sought for pity and attention. The increasing laws have sounded as warning bells, however the Wiesel’s family still doubts about the cruelty of the Germans since they had given a good impression.
Question: Why is the title called, “Night”? The word, “night”, had been mentioned a few times in chapter one? What is the connection between night and the situation the Jews are facing?
After reading the first chapter I have realized that Elie is a very religious boy who enjoys studying the Talmud and likes spending time at the temple talking to Moshe the Beadle. Although Elie’s father thinks that he is too young to study religious texts, Elie still strongly thinks that religious study can give him faith and energy. I think at this point Elie is still naïve, but has strong faith.
In the beginning the Jews were fooled by their own optimism which led to their ignorance of Moshe’s warning about the news of the German invasion of Hungary. If the Jews had believed in Moshe they would probably had a chance to escape, but on the other hand it is unrealistic to think in this perspective because if I was one of the Jews, I would definitely think he is insane. Because of the everyday peace, normally people wouldn’t think of such big issues coming to real life, so naturally we ignore the warnings that may have been the chance to save your own life; this is an example of chance.
On page 21, "These optimistic speeches, which no one believed, helped to pass the time," demonstrates that the optimism of the Jewish people was just a way to survive the harsh condition, the Jews must keep hope if they want to survive.
Question: Will Elie attitude towards religion and god change in the following chapters?
A question I had after reading section one of Night was why were they all so optimistic? Optimism was reiterated throughout this section. Even under the threat of being murdered, they adapted to their new lives. The Jews remained joyous and happy. I think it is related to their religion, because the Jews think that God is all-powerful and omnibenevolence. The Jews did not realize the threat of the Nazis until they actually experience the pain. Moshe, for example, was joyous and optimistic like the others, but after he was almost murdered by the Gestapo, he “no longer had any joy in his eyes. He no longer sang. He no longer talked to me of God or of the cabbala, but only of what he had seen.” This is like when you think the test is easy and when you actually take it, you fail.
ANDREW:
If I was a Jew in that situation, I wouldn't necessarily believe what they said. First of all, I would believe and God and believe that He wouldn't allow that kind of thing to happen on us Jews. What Beadle said was just too bizarre and it seemed too brutal. The situation of leave their homes and digging their own graves were too unreal and impossible for the Jews. The Jews also received news that the Nazis weren't going to come, so they believed that and put what Beadle said aside. Because they were so ignorant, all the Jews were captured and sent to concentration camp.
Why didn't they accept Martha, their old servants, offer to hide them in her village?
In the book, it says that it is because their family refused to be separated. I think that it is also because they did not know how awful the camps were. When Moshe the Beadle warned them about making them dig their own graves, they didn't believe him. I think that they didn't believe him because the Germans were actually pretty polite, and "even smiled occasionally at the mistress of the house." They probably just thought that he was trying to make them pity him. I find this sad because if they listened to Moshe and accepted Martha's offer, then they could've escaped.
Ted Wu- Why is the title called, “Night”? The word, “night”, had been mentioned a few times in chapter one? What is the connection between night and the situation the Jews are facing?
I think the author used "Night" as a symbol of the increasing desperateness and fear that the Jews are facing when they are deported. It can also symbolize the evil and the dark side of the Nazis. As the Nazis slowly take away all the joy, light, and hope, of the Jews, it will show the dark side of human and the natural evil side within every human. Like Lord of the Flies.
Jasper:
I think that his father would do this is because he doesn't want to take advantages from other people. He just wants to be a person who doesn't rely on other people. Also, he doesn't believe Moshe's story and this tells us that he thinks that his family will be safe, even when the Nazis come. Of course after what happened in the story we know that his decision was a tragedy, but if we were in his shoes at that time many people would also reject the chance.
Q: After Moshe come back, he wept. what kind of person do you think Moshe is? The kind of person who tear for his country, or people who tear for himself?
Andrew:
I think Wiesel didn’t believe Moshe the Beadle because he wasn’t used to Moshe being pessimistic. Moshe has always been talking about God and deep ideas and Wiesel has been living in a comfortable society, so Wiesel didn’t believe what Moshe said. Like Weifan mentioned, it was hard to accept something suddenly. I think it would be hard for anyone to accept something that they’re not used to. After the Fascists attacked the Jews in Budapest, they became aware of the situation but they still chose to be optimistic and thought that the Germans would “stay in Budapest.” It is difficult for people to believe something else all of a sudden, but when they witness the situation, they will make up an excuse to get it over with.
Response,
Elie Wiesel had a lot of chance to escape, he could’ve left with the former maid Maria, or left from the unguarded houses but he didn’t. If I was Elie Wiesel, I would’ve been scared and left with the maid along with my family or just escape. I don’t know why Elie Wiesel didn’t take his chance. Is it because he didn’t know what was coming? But from how they soldiers treat them he should’ve know it wasn’t good. Did they seriously think they were on a vacation? why are they so happy?
Ted:
I think that the title of the book is "Night" for many reasons. The author probably uses the word night to try to portray how the Jews feel. Little children are always afraid of darkness and night. They believe that nighttime is when all the ghosts and evil monsters come out to attack them. Night is the time that the children don't want to face; it is their darkest fear. The Jews' darkest fear at this stage is being deported by the Germans to the concentration camps, where they will probably be killed. Going to the concentration camp is entering nighttime, while being in the city is being in daytime. Going on the train is dusk, when the Jews must prepare themselves for the night that is coming. The connection is that the Jews at that stage in time were going through the night; they were being massacred in concentration camps with seemingly no end. If we are scared at night and we can't sleep, the night takes a long time to pass because it remains night for around 8-10 hours. We can't wait for it to pass, but we can't do anything about our fear. The Jews are unable to do anything about their current situation except to wait for it to be over, as a scared child can only wait for the night to end so they can wake up into daytime. Also, at nighttime, it is always dark outside. Darkness always symbolizes fear or uncertainty. When it is dark outside, we feel less certain about ourselves and much more afraid because we cannot see. If we cannot see what is going on around us, then we are afraid of what we don't expect to happen. We are afraid of getting waylaid by odd people on the streets and the like. The Jews right now have no idea where they are going. They are just following orders "in the dark". They have no idea where they are going, but they still follow it because they fear the alternative of not following these orders. However, they are scared because they don't know what is going to happen, and they are proceeding without any knowledge.
My question
Why do you think Wiesel's father didn't want to escape? They had a great chance to escape definite suffering for sure, but Wiesel's father rejected the chance. What do you think makes him do this? Why do you think the others follow him even though they probably want to escape?
Jenny: so far Moshe seem like his best friend, so his point of view/way of thoughts would stand for Moshe (in my opinion).
Why does the author use Eliezer as the narrator's name and not Wiesel? There are also a few differences between Wiesel and Eliezer in the book. Why does Weisel make slight differences between him and Eliezer, the narrator?
Weifan:
I think they did not escape mainly because they could not. The Germans had surrounded the Jews, and plus they were easily identified. Then, there could have been a possibility that Wiesel's family could of wanted to stay in their cozy home, just one day longer and another day because this little house of theirs probably meant a lot to their history and past lifetimes.
My Question:
When the Germans first arrived, many of the Jews thought optimistically since they were such "fine gentlemen" and that they had manners. Why do the Germans treat them so well, even though the fate that the Jews will be deported is acknowledged in their minds?
Albert Liang 9B
"They called him Moshe the Beadle, as though he had never had a surname in his life... He was a past master in the art of making himself insignificant, of seeming invisible."
What is the significance of Elie Wiesel introducing the story with the character of Moshe the Beadle? What does Wiesel mean by Moshe being a past "master" of making himself "insignificant"? How does Moshe foreshadow what is to come?
*note: is it just me, or do people have books with Moshe typed Moishe?
andrew:
If you were Wiesel, what would you think of Moshe the Beadle's tales?
On one hand, before Moishe was taken, he is somewhat of a mentor to the twelve-year-old Eliezer.
On the other, no one else believes the pauper, including his family - and at twelve, many of your thoughts are still biased by what your parents say (which isn't necessarily in a negative tone, but it is true in most cases).
Besides, the stories are too appalling to believe. If I were Eliezer, I would start to become a little wary of the guy. Either I'd think he was exaggerating, perhaps it still remains part truth, or - like the rest of the town - I'd think he finally snapped, that things like that would never happen in such a place with new technology and strong civilisation ideas.
I think it's rather sad how that is though. If Moishe was a much more prominent person in society - high-ranking and known to be trustworthy, it most certainly would have been a different case if he came back and started telling people the same story he did (although he probably wouldn't be taken away as a foreign Jew if that were the case).
Why didn't they go with Martha to a place where they might could safe? Why risk going to wherever the officers were taking them? Even though in the book, it says that the family did not want to be separated, why didn't the whole family just go together?
Andrew:
If I were Elie I would have believed Moishe because he was a friend and I've had known him for a while. He was the man that had taught me the Kabbalah when my dad had tried to discourage me. I had believed in him for a reason, so why should I have stopped just because what he was telling was something I didn't want to hear? He was the man that the people of Sighet loved, why would he lie to get sympathy?
It wasn't as if he didn't explain to me why he was telling everyone about what had happened. He didn't tell the stories to freak people out. Everyone in Sighet was too overly optimistic, whenever they heard bad news, they quickly dismissed it with an excuse, and life continued as usual. Moishe knew that no matter what news people heard from the radio, they wouldn't believe it. He had came back to warn the people so they could escape in time.
albert:
I think the Germans were polite because they were brought up that way, and had to reason to be mean and rude to the Jews. They probably only killed the Jews and took the Jews away because they were ordered to do so. The officers are human, they should have sympathy, so I don't think they can be mean to the Jews, knowing what they have to do with them in just a few short days.
Throughout the first chapter, the people of Sighet were optimistic, even when the Germans were already there. Why?
Response to Andrew: I think that Wiesel's family didnt think that the Germans would really hurt them. Afterall, who would expect a human being to do such cruel, unjust things as the Nazi's did? Wiesel's family probably just thought that the rumors were "rumors".
albert:
i think that the officers were polite because they didn't want the Jews to start thinking something bad might be happening. they started out polite to deceive them and that way, it would've been easier to deport all of them because there wouldn't be a huge fuss.
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Why does no one believe Moishe's story? He was taken from Sighet because he was a foreign Jew and he amazingly came back with a wound to the leg. And yet, none of the Jews believed that the Germans had killed people.
In the first chapter, Wiesel had emphasized the chances they had to escape the coming horror, “At that time, it was still possible to obtain emigration permits…I had asked my father to sell out, liquidate his business, and leave,” “If he had spoken to us that evening, we could perhaps have fled…it was too late.” How miserable he must have felt when he was at a concentration camp, thinking of all the opportunities they had to escape, all the chances they had forgone.
However, if I had been in his position, I doubt I could have done better. Thinking from his and his family’s point of view, of course the Germans would not attack. It would have been as unimaginable for me as it had been for them. The warnings were only quiet hints; hints that are only obvious and blaringly clear afterwards- after all, hindsight is 20/20.
They had lived a comfortable life, and the way of the concentrations camps could only have appeared in nightmares. When the nightmare had come true, what else could they have done but try to cling on to the hope that a miracle would happen, it would all turn out to be an illusion?
I doubt that anyone, if they had truly been in Wiesel’s position, would have been able to pay heed to the warnings.
Why Eliezer's family didn't accept Martha's offer to escape, hide to the Martha's village?
It's quite confusing that they will probaly die if they dont escape, because the Nazi German will shoot them, send them to the concentration camps, enslave them. Even though Eliezer family have escape to Martha's village, the Hungarian Police will still seeking for Jewish citizens. Although family is always stand first, but still they need to know that surviving is still important.
Bess,
For the first seven days, the guard didn’t hurt them as they heard from others, so they got hopeful that the rest of what they heard wasn’t true also. They didn’t know what they were going to face so they were more optimistic so everybody might be more hopeful. They sort of picked to ignore the fact that they were in trouble.
Chuni: There hope comes from their God. They still believe in God and that God will provide them safety.
In the story they attend synagogues and keep their strong beliefs in their god and religion. They also believe that God will be their solution to this problem and that he will save them from the Germans
My question is why didn'y Wiesel's family and all the people in the town believed Moishe and Beadle's story? If they had listened to them, maybe they could escape earlier, and don't get caught by the German.
Why didn't Wiesel believe Moishe and Beadle's story?
TO JENNIFER:
I think as the story progressly continue, Elie's attitude toward religion will change because of the German. They will deeply affect Elie's thaught.
Why didn't they go with Martha to a place where they might could safe? Why risk going to wherever the officers were taking them? Even though in the book, it says that the family did not want to be separated, why didn't the whole family just go together?
They didn't go with martha to a place where they might be safe because they wanted to remain together as a family. The family went whereever the officers took them because they didn't want any trouble from disobeying them. The family wanted to stay together for as long as possible.
Why were the Jew so happy even after their lives were at stake? Does this have to do with beliving in God?
Andrew,
I think the reason that Wiesel didn't believe Moshe was because he was not prepared to accept the change, not because he was unaware of the cruelty.
Sometimes when we hear of life-changing news, we do not readily accept or believe it. Instead, we try to avoid the truth as if the event, no matter how inevitable it really is, will never happen.
If I was in Wiesel’s place, I would have believed Moshe immediately. He noticed that “Moshe had changed. There was no longer any joy in his eyes. He no longer sang. He no longer talked to [Wiesel] of God or of the cabbala, but only of what he had seen.” (pg 4) Such a change would have made me realize the horrifying experience Moshe must have gone through, and that his stories were warnings, not just a fool’s tale.
When the “race toward death” first began, did Wiesel think millions of Jews would die as a result?
Pg. 11:
"The yellow star? So what? It's not lethal..."
(Poor Father! Of what then did you die?)
If Wiesel's father actually believed there was danger, as was suggested, why didn't he try to escape? Why did he just spread false hopes? It wasn't really helpful, since the persecution and deportation still happened.
Jasmine: I think the word "night" might refer to the despair the Jews feel. It can be like being in eternal darkness, with nothing to comfort you.
Why didn't they listen to Moshe after he came back? After all, he had the evidence of a wound. Do humans really reject words they don't want to hear? Isn't it funny - they could have saved their own lives. Why? Did they just not want to face the fact that that might be the truth?
Many people asked about why they didn't accept their servant's author. I think his family didn't want to drag her down the drain along with them, as it is none of her business. Their ignorance caused their own demise, they are too naive
My question was why were the Jews not at all scared of the Germans? In most of the front part of the story, The Jews were not scared of the Germans coming because they thought the Russian Red Army was coming. But even after it was told that and the Jews saw the Germans coming, they were still not afriad, they always tried to be postitive. Why?
elissa: if I were Wiesel, I think I would half believe him but stay doubtful. True, the stories are insanely cruel almost to the point of unrealistic (throwing babies into the air and using them as gun targets?). But Moshe had changed so much... his wound, his demeanor, almost everything about him. That would be enough to set the wheel of suspicion in my mind, and I would go consult with others and argue my point, to see what they thought of it. Most people would probably think Moshe was crazy, though. Unless I came upon a paranoid extremist.
“Yet we still were not worried. Of course we had heard of the Fascists, but it was all in the abstract. It meant nothing more to us than a change of ministry.”—page 9.
We were once all young and little. When we were little kids, we never really understood what sorrow and grief were. We only knew that it meant sadness from dictionaries and definitions given by our teachers. However, we had never really experienced it before, therefore it was all abstract. In the year 2003, my grandfather passed away. I was old enough to understand what sorrow was. In my grandfather’s room in the hospital were my relatives and I, we were all crying for my grandfather’s pass-away and remembering all the nice memories we had with him. My feelings cannot be described in a few words. I now understand what sorrow is, but not fully. I will be experiencing more and more situations and life experiences in my lifetime and will be learning more about sorrow and grief. In the novel, Night, Elie Wiesel never knew what Fascism would do to them until he really experienced it. There are just some things in our life that we will never understand unless we experience it by ourselves.
Demi:
I think why they didn't follow Martha to her house was because his father believed they were being sent away for their won good so he didn't want to take the offer. The father does not know that they are going to be sent to concentration camps and be tortured so he did not think going to hide at Martha house was necessary. Martha offered Eliezer and his older sisters to go and that she would stay with his parents, meaning they wouldn't see their parent and since Eliezer is only 12 he still clings to his parents a lot. Also their whole family has no clue where they are going so a family would naturally stay together under parent’s protection.
Question:
Throughout the beginning the people we optimistic over everything even if there were signs of evilness, even when they were being sent away to some unknown area they still think "perhaps we are being deported for our own good"(18). Why do you think they always have an optimistic perspective over things?
Angela: I don't think Wiesel thought about about millions of people being killed because he was oblivious about what the Germans were planning. At that time, he thought they were just being deported, they never thought they were going to get killed. They were all happy with what they were given and death was not on anyone's mind. I think the "race towards death" is what he sees today, not what he had foresaw as a child.
To Jasper Louh:
I think Wiesel’s father didn’t want to escape with Martha because just like the book said, he didn’t want to be separated with his family. I think he is a very loyal and reasonable person. He denied the chance of being free: free from the wrath of the German soldiers, and traded that luxury to stay with his family: to endure the pain that his family would take eventually, together.
To Andrew:
I think if I were in Wiesel’s position, I would have definite believed in Moishe’s tales. Since I have been with him for such a long time and learned so much from him, I would definitely know when he was lying or when he was saying the truth. When he talked about what had happened in the camp, I definitely believe him because what he said was exactly what the German’s would’ve done. On the other hand, he had completely no gain if he lied. The only thing people would do is have pity for him, nothing else.
Question:
What do you think the "night" symbolizes in the story. Does it have a special meaning? Or is it just a time when they sit still and pray?
"Our old servant, Martha, came to see us. Weeping bitterly, she begged us to come to her village, where she could give us a safe refuge. My father did not
want to hear of it." (page 18)
Why didn't they accept and go with their servant? Couldn't they tell that something was wrong? From this quote it seemed like the servant knew something
that no one knows, or why else would she be "weeping bitterly"? Why didn't she tell them what she knows? I don't think it's because she was sad and was crying because they were leaving, in the
book it said that she wanted to give them a safe refuge. It means that no one else knows about what's going on, or why would they want to go to the camps and end up getting killed? Didn't they think it was strange that the Germams were acting so "calm, likable, polite, sympathetic."? (page 7) And when they already heard about "The Jews in Budapest are living in an atmosphere of fear and terror.There are anti-Semitic incidents everyday, in the streets, in the trains. The Fascists are attacking Jewsish shops and synagogues. The situation is very serious." (page 7), why didn't they sense that something was not right?
rJasmine: When god first begins his creations, the earth is "without form and void and darkness upon the face of the deep", so I think night symbolizes a work without god's presence. It shows the depth of Nazi's evil side, which is Hell, as opposed to Heaven.
My Question:
Is the story not only about Nazi vs. Jews, but also about faith and God? “Oh God, Lord of the Universe, take pity upon us….” Will their faith to their Lord affect the way they end up in the Nazi Era?
Fernando,
I think Eliezer's family didn't accept their maid Martha's offer to hide out because they thought that it would all be over soon, that it wasn't for real, that they would be coming back. Also, they had their pride and wanted to keep it; to seek shelter from their own maid would sort of be like degrading themselves, to them. However, if they had done so it would probably have been the best decision.
I don't really have a question, I just wanted to say that the author starts off this first chapter in a light and airy tone, as if he is sitting back watching it all unfold and no harm will come for real. It was probably the take on things he had at the time, and I think it really conveys the sense that the Jews had in their ignorance that everything was going to be fine and that they were in no imminent danger. Unfortunately, they were wrong, and though they could have heeded the warnings and fled, they didn't and ended up suffering.
Andrew: I probably wouldn't have believed in Moshie either. But at the same time I don't think he's that kind of person who makes up strange stories.
In page 11, it emphasizes the word “normal”, what does it mean by normal. Like how their life was getting in peace or calm? What does this mean? In page 12, it says, “ But apart from that, the atmosphere was oddly peaceful and reassuring.” Does this quote connect to the question that I just asked? Or is it talking about some other thing?
In this novel, Night, I can easily imagine the scene of the story. The way Wiesel describes the scene, where they are leaving their house; it feels actuality. Also the part where the main character feels the hatred toward the Hungarian Police. Not only it feels realistic but also showing the faith in the characters’ mind and non-giving up thoughts, like the main character’s mother. In the novel, obviously pray takes a very important role of the novel. They all have to pray, not only it’s important to them, but its like their daily bases.
Throughout the first chapter, Elie Wiesel told us about his wise friend Moshe the Beadle. Moshe has been a extraordinary teacher whom has revealed great knowledge and understanding of the world, God, and faith to Elie.
A few months later, Jews were expelled from the region. Moshe was one of the Jews who were taken away, and later on one of the very few that escaped from Germans. After returning to the town, he informed the Jews about the horrifying things the German polices are planning to do. People didn’t believe him and thought of him as a lunatic. My question is: Why didn’t anyone believe Moshe? Hasn’t he proved that he is worthy of being trusted, especially towards Elie?
Andrew:If you are Wiesel would you have believed or listened in Moishe's tales?
Response: I wouldn't have believed the stories at first, but since these tales were coming from someone so wise, I guess it would sound very convincing and realistic.
Why did the Hungaron goverment agree to transport them to suh a cruel palce? or they didn't know what was doing to the Jews, but then why were they so cruel?
Jasmine: If you've noticed, the author occasionally uses the word, "night." He repeats the word a couple of times. What is the significance of that word? Why is the book title called "Night" when night doesn't have anything to do the Jews and Nazis?
Since the Jews are killed in this story, I think the author uses the word night to portray the depression that the Jews feel. The word night also gives me a sense that since lots of Jews have died, it seems like the author is trying to use it like they’re sleeping through the night, even though they’re already dead.
Umm my question is the same as the other people. Why are the Jews optimistic at first and why didn’t they believe in Moshe the Beadle after he was captured and got free?
to Wei-fan
they were warned but they didn't know what was happening, it just happend all so soon, and that people like stable places, they would stay in the same place if possible.
Why do the German officers wait until after the week of Passover to start enforcing new rules and arresting people? They could have just started doing all that stuff when they arrived. Do they want to give the Jews a sense of hope? Do the officers want to grant them happiness before they ruin their lives? What are the intentions behind their actions?
From the very start of the story, the Jews were all very optimistic about certain things. They were optimistic that the Russians would win. They were sure that the German Army would come to Sighet. And they were positive that the German Army which arrived are not cruel people, and would treat them nicely.
If the people of Sighet were much more pessimistic about the matter, would they have fled? Would that have prevented them from being caught by the German's?
my question
what does night symbolize?
what does it have to do with the jews?
To andrew/weifan:
i dun think there is a true "truth"
and yes like what weifan said: usually no one would believe in bad/sad stories.
Jasper: I think he refused to escape because it was too much of a change in too short of an amount of time to handle. One day he has nothing to worry about, happy with his life, and the next he's being deported. If I was in his position, I'm pretty sure it would take me a while to accept the fact that my life was ruined. So, he probably didn't want to admit that the life he was once content with was falling to pieces. Also, believing in God, Wiesel's father might not have believed that He would allow this to happen to them. Imagine being rich beyond your imagination. Then imagine your parents telling you that your family was bankrupt. At first, you would probably deny it, hoping that it wasn't true. Similar to the way Wiesel's neighbor wished Wiesel was playing a prank on him as he woke him in the middle of the night.
In my opinion, Wiesel stayed with his father because he thought families should stick together.
No offense to the Japanese or the Germans, but I think they're pretty sadistic people.. Doesn't the guilt of killing millions of other human beings just overwhelm you? I mean, won't you feel that guilt knawing away your soul? How can you live with such a guilty conscience? Frankly, I think itss pretty scary. The German soldiers even acted nice to the people of Sighet at first. Doesn't it just make them appear was even more cruel people that way? It's just like Jack playing with his prey. He tortures the pig first before he actually kills it. Another question I have is (although it does not directly refer to the book), what did the Germans do with the Germans who were against Nazism? Were they killed as well?
oh woops = =
gnaw* heh
I found the beginning of the story dramatically ironic. When I read about Moshe the Beadle, I was like...dude! you ppl should listen to Moshe! Readers would already know that the Jewish people should've fled the moment Moshe came back and warned them. We knew that something that the characters didnt know, which is why its dramatically ironic. Being a somewhat "paranoid" person, If i were the author, I would've listened to Moshe's warning and fled.
ted wu:
I belive that the author chose the title "Night" because the first words that may come up into your mind when someone says night are probably "darkness, fear of dark, no sunlight...etc." The first part of book describes how the Jews are suffering under the strict laws and the arrival of Germans. If the book was called "day" it probably would be a boring story about happiness/ utopia. It is the "night" that sets up the conflict in the story.
albert:
Like Demi said, I think the officers were ordered to kill the Jews. However, it is possible that they are just trying to hold a better reputation. The Germans are unable to step into the Jews' shoes, since they aren't treated with disrespect or harshness. page 21: "...People rather got along. There no longer was any distinction between rich and poor, notables and others; we were all people condemned to the same fate..." This quote brings a sense of humanity into the story. If the Germans were part of the group condmened into the same fate, I believe that they would get along with the Jews, without any discrimination.
Question:
(1) What is the "yellow star" on page 11?
(2) Where do you think the Jews might be heading?
"Night. No one prayed, so that the night would pass quickly. The stars were only sparks of the fire which devoured us. Should that fire die out one day, there would be nothing left in the sky but dead stars, dead eyes."
In the first 1-22 pages, Night is emphasized and repeated over and over. It is also the title of the book. What do you think night symbolizes, up to this point?
I think night symbolizes the darkness and fear within all of the people. When night comes, everyone's fear and uncertainty is amplified. With the arrival of night, gone is the safety and assurance of daylight. The sun washed away the unknown of the night, while darkness brings back the horror and terrors within oneself.
What do you think night symbolizes?
ROBERT:
I agree with youthat their optimism has to with their religion. Non-religious people wouldn’t be so optimistic, since they don’t really have anything to give them hope. But, religious people would be more optimistic because their religion grants them hope; they believe that God will help them. This is probably the reason why the Jews were so optimistic, even when the German troops entered the Hungarian territory. When the news of the Germans invading the Hungarian territory, the Jews revived their optimism, “The Germans won’t get as far as this. They’ll stay in Budapest. There are strategic and political reasons….”(Wiesel,7)
Quote response chapter 1
“He explained to me, with great emphasis, that every question possessed a power that was lost in the answer...”(5)
I have been told many times in my life that the best and most meaningful questions cannot be answered. The best example I know is that question about life: What is the purpose of life? I think the power that Moishe said questions had was the power of how unanswered questions often leave us puzzled and make us want to find the answer. This way we don’t forget about it. But for questions with an easy answer, we often forget about it as soon as it is answered. That is why the power is lost when the answer is found.
In this part of the novel, I've become more depress by the minute the story goes on. Especially when Moishe comes back and tell everyone of what's happening to them, and the group that has been sent away a week ago. Because people here heard that those who have moved out had a great life there, and had a job too. But its actually a trap where they were sent to the death concentration camp. I've become depress when no one believe and refuse what Moishe said, especially when he mentions death.
In my own experience, things like this happen, but it's nothing big. But people usually won't believe you because of either from what they heard or receiving a note from someone saying something which is false but were believe to be true. They never really give in and believe what you said.
Another point is, the author point out, Moishe did not have the strength to drag himself all the way back to the Jews that did get capture yet. God gave him the strength, and that was miracles. Miracles can happen, but there are many people, who are blindfold and did not believe.
Moishe was a wise old man. But why everyone refuse to listen to what he said, but only Elie? Why did Elie believe him?
To Hannah:
If I told you that I've had surgery three times, would you believe me? Well, maybe you would (and it's true by the way), but that's beside the point. What I'm trying to say is, what Moishe tried to tell the others was so radical, it would be very hard to believe. I don't that that even Wiesel believed him, just as most probably wouldn't agree to saying that our previous president was a good guy, but let's not get into politics.
--
My question:
Why didn't Wiesel's father have the whole family go to the safety shelter that their previous maid set up? If I were them, I would gladly take the offer than live in a ghetto.
If you really think about it, the Germans dont really have a point in hating the jews. The only reason why they hate the jews is because hitler, or someone, came up with a theory that jews were bad and that they are of the lower level, which is not true. This type of racism is often seen throughout history. They type that has no reason, just pure twisted hate. My only question is why do people come up with these ideas that other races or different types of people are lower kind than them? Why do they think this way? Is it to hide their own shame? Or do they really hate them for some unknown reason.
I think that the people in Sighet don't truly think that they are completely out of harm's way. THey are most likely in a state of deep hallucinatory denial. I mean, the people of Sighet aren't idiotic, they can see the truth in Moishe's words. However, they don't want to believe that they can be rounded up and killed at any given moment. I understand that not all German soldiers are inherently evil, which is probably why the German officers boarded in Sighet are so civil and polite. Or it could be just an act, to instill false confidence and hope, and a sense of ease.
To Jennifer:
I agree with you. night here symbolizes, to me, a sense of slow, prolonged torture. Each moment spent in night is another living moment, but as each moment passes, you are one step closer to death, which comes in the morning. It's like when they said, on page 21 (large book), "no one was praying for the night to pass quickly.
Chuni~
When people believe in a religion, they will rely on their god. So like Jews they believe that god will save them from all their troubles. And to maintain that, they pray and attend synagogues and other religious events
When the Germans first arrived, many of the Jews thought optimistically since they were such "fine gentlemen" and that they had manners. Why do the Germans treat them so well, even though the fate that the Jews will be deported is acknowledged in their minds?
A: The Germans set out to exterminate Jews from their world, to keep out the undesirables, and to exercise their control over those ‘lesser races’. However, they don’t wish for the Jews to fight back, which would hurt the superior Germans, so they trick them into believing that they are there to help the Jews. This way, it will be easier for them to fall into their death traps, as the Jews would trust them by then.
I don’t believe that the Germans were sincere. They just put on an act so there would be less resistance when they rounded them up. Maybe it was also an amusement to them, where they would trick the Jews into trusting them before shattering all their hopes when their real duty surfaced. Of course, they weren’t all cruel soldiers, and many, knowing the fate of the Jews, would have wanted to give them some peace before all was changed, to lessen their suffering by just a little without disobeying orders.
I think that the first reason is the most possible, but it would have been nice if the last reason was the main motive the Germans had for being gentlemanly to Jews.
Q: Ironically, Elie and his family had numerous chances to go free before they were rounded up the Nazis, but because of their fear and suspicion, their chance at freedom left them, even when those who wanted to help them were friends, What does this show about the human nature when a person is afraid and doesn’t know who to trust?
“Night no one prayed, so that the night would pass quickly. The stars were only sparks of the fire which devoured us. Should that fire die out one day, there would be nothing left in the sky but dead starts, dead eyes.” (pg. 18) They don’t want the next day to come and over here, night represents prolong, letting them live throughout the night, but when the next day comes, who knows what’s going to happen. The next day might be the day that you die. When it’s night time, they can not be killed but once night passes, who knows.
Chuni: I agree with Daisy, when you believe in a religion, you believe that that particular God can save you from all your troubles, and help you with everything. Thus, you go to churches such as synagogue so you can be closer him. You’ll believe that he has everything planned out for you with the best outcome.
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