The document discusses the theme of night and darkness in Elie Wiesel's memoir "Night". It notes that in the Bible, God first creates light to dispel darkness, so darkness symbolizes a world without God's presence. In "Night", Wiesel demonstrates this - night always occurs when suffering is worst, reflecting his belief that he lives in a godless world. The first mention of night falling is when his father learns of the deportation of Jews, and key terrible events like arriving at Auschwitz and the death march from Buna start at night.
2. Theme: Night/Darkness
• The Bible begins with God’s creation of the earth.
God’s first act is to create light and dispel this darkness.
Darkness and night therefore symbolize a world
without God’s presence. In Night, Wiesel demonstrates
this allusion. Night always occurs when suffering is
worst, and its presence reflects Wiesel’s belief that he
lives in a world without God. The first time he
mentions that “night fell” is when his father is
interrupted while telling stories and informed about
the deportation of Jews. Similarly, it is night when he
first arrives at Auschwitz, and it is night; specifically
“pitch darkness”. Also, when the prisoners begin their
horrible run from Buna, they start at night.
