Importance Of Relationships In Elie Wiesel's 'Night'

Surviving is difficult. In Elie Wiesel’s moving memoir, “Night,” Wiesel explores the idea of the importance of relationships in anguishing situations. Wiesel writes about his adolescence, when he was taken from his home in Sighet and placed in a concentration camp. In the concentration camp, Wiesel and his father went through many trials and tribulations. Familial bonds help the persecuted to survive. Elie Wiesel often relied on his father during his time at the camp. Wiesel’s relative, Stein, gave up hope after losing his familial bonds. Rabbi Eliahu endured three years of adversity with his son. A father and his son were both killed after forgetting their family. Without the strength that familial relationships provide, more people …show more content…
When one has hope of seeing their loved ones again they will fight for the opportunity, especially when their family is all they have left. If all of their family is gone they will lose their hope and have nothing to live for. Elie Wiesel’s relative, Stein from Antwerp, hoped that his family was still alive. When he asked Elie if he had heard news of his family, Elie lied and said yes. Stein said that “the only thing that keeps me alive...is to know that Reizel and the little ones are still alive” (pg. 45). Elie’s lie gave him hope, and his desire to live was strengthened. Upon another transport’s arrival, Stein left to ask of any more news of his wife and children, but he was given “the real news” (pg. 45), and Elie never saw Stein again. When Stein heard the truth of the loss of his family, he lost all hope and let himself die. Stein had lost his family, and had no strong familial relationships to make him persevere. If Stein had not lost his familial bonds, he would have been able to survived for longer. His lost friendships with his loved ones disabled his ability to endure …show more content…
Society needs people to tell the story of history. Relationships assist with survival, so relationships are important. This is proven many times in Wiesel’s memoir, including in the circumstances of Rabbi Eliahu. Rabbi Eliahu was “beloved by everyone in the camp” (pg. 90), and seemed to stay cheerful even throughout the terrifying ordeal of living in a concentration camp. To survive, he maintained a close relationship with his son. “For three years, they had stayed close to one another. Side by side, they had endured the suffering, the blows” (pg. 91). Wiesel explicitly states that the father-son relationship helped them to go on through the pain. Because of their relationship, the two men had someone to live for and they had someone to stay near them. “Despite the ordeals and deprivations, his face continued to radiate his innocence” (pg. 90). Rabbi Eliahu was able to be more optimistic because he had the company of his son. The presence of Rabbi Eliahu’s son changed the outcome of Rabbi Eliahu’s life, as he was able to persevere and be more positive. His relationship with his family helped him to overcome