The relationship between Eliezer and his father

In the novel, the relationship between Eliezer and his father before and after Hitler deports them is observed to be strong. However, the experiences that they go through together at the Nazi death camp transform that relationship. This essay will explore the relationship between Eliezer and his father and how it changes throughout the novel.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The relationship between Eliezer and his father specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Relationship of respect and obedience At the beginning of the story, the relationship existing between Eliezer and his father is held together by a bond of mutual understanding and respect. In Sighet, his father is seen as a respected member belonging to the community of the Jews (Jablon 317). Even though he refuses to take the mentorship role over his son’s training of mysticism, Eliezer still regards him with utmost respect not only because of his positio n in the Jewish community but because it was expected of him to follow the example of other Orthodox Jewish families (Frunza 99). Relationship of love and dependence At Birkenau, Elie and his father are separated from the rest of their family members. He began to feel the loss and gripped with fear of losing his father, the forthcoming experiences and need for protection; he clings to his father (Spector 40). At some point in the story, his father weeps at the thought of what Elie will go through at the death camp, and the expression of emotions by his father assures him of love (Bauer 22). When Eli is taken to Block 17 after separation with his father, he worries about his well being and continues offering support. They rely on each other for strength to working and survival (Misco 10). Relationship of anger and frustration While in the concentration camps, the oppressions make keeping a good relationship between Elie and his father cumbersome. His father narrowly escapes death aft er being beaten thoroughly by a 13-year-old in the presence of Elie for failing to make his bed properly (Frunza 99). Also, his father receives beatings from a gypsy and Idek the camp overseer (Spector 40). Unable to help and faced with embarrassment and frustrations, he directs his anger at his father (Jablon 317). Even though he cares for him, he does not understand why his father is always at fault and why he can’t defend himself (Hospital 360). His attitude towards his father begins to change.Advertising Looking for essay on literature languages? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Wesley sees his father as a burden Even though the bond between Elie and his father is strong, at some point in the story, he sees his father as a burden. During the first selection, Elie’ gets upset when his father fails to pass the test, and this forces him to work extra hard for both of them to survive (Misco 10). Additionally, his father is almost thrown out of the cattle cars for fear that he is dead. Elie is forced to slap his father to wake up (Bauer 22). Additionally, he has to fight and kill a person grabbing food from his father on the train (Hospital 360). From these, Elie sees his father as a burden and despite the adversity growing between them and his struggles to keep the relationship. These events cause a change in attitude towards his father, and at one point he leaves his father to die during an air raid (Jablon 317). Works Cited Bauer, Markus.   â€Å"Coming to Terms with the Past: Romania†Ã‚  History Today,  57.2  (2007):  21-23.  Research Library,  ProQuest. Web.  14 Jun. 2011. Frunza,  Sandu.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Ethics, religion, and memory in Elie Wiesel’s night†Ã‚  Journal for the Study of Religions and Ideologies  9.26  (2010):  94-113.  ProQuest Religion,  ProQuest. Web.   14 Jun. 2011. Hospital,  Clifford.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Towards maturity in inter-fait h dialogue†Ã‚  Cross Currents  57.3  (2007):  356-365.  ProQuest Religion,  ProQuest. Web.   14 Jun. 2011. Jablon, Rachel Leah.   â€Å"Witnessing as Shivah; Memoir as Yizkor: The Formulation of Holocaust Survivor Literature as Gemilut Khasadim  Ã¢â‚¬ Ã‚  Journal of Popular Culture  38.2  (2004):  306-324.  Research Library,  ProQuest. Web.   14 Jun. 2011. Misco,  Thomas.†Nobody told us about what happened†: the current state of Holocaust education in Romania.†International Education,   38.1  (2008):  6-21.  Research Library,  ProQuest. Web.  14 Jun. 2011.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The relationship between Eliezer and his father specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Spector, Karen.   â€Å"God on the Gallows: Reading the Holocaust through Narratives of Redemption  Ã¢â‚¬ Ã‚  Research in the Teaching of   English  42.1  (2007):  7-5 5.  Research Library,  ProQuest. Web.   14 Jun. 2011. This essay on The relationship between Eliezer and his father was written and submitted by user RoxanneSimpson to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here. The Relationship between Eliezer and his Father Change is inevitable and the relationship between Eliezer and his father in Night transforms drastically. The young boy and his father go through much suffering in concentration camp. The experience at the concentration camp changes the relationship between son and father and the despicable treatment by the Nazis help Eliezer and his father develop a strong bond.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Relationship between Eliezer and his Father specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More As the story begins the relation between Eliezer and his father is very weak. It does not reflect a normal relationship between a father and a son. Eliezer even thinks that his father cares for others more than his family â€Å"He was more concerned with others than with his own family† (Wiesel 2). Moreover, his father does not support him in his religious quest. Thus Eliezer finds Moshe, a teacher to teach him the Cabbala something tha t does not go well with his father who condemns him for his preoccupation with the Cabbala. Their relationship is strained but soon it changes as their circumstances change. Once the two are taken to a concentration camp along with many others their relationship, begin to become close. The reason for the change is the loss of the rest of their family members, and they are only left with each other. The horrendous days and the atrocious treatment they receive at camp Auschwitz bring them closer as they learn to depend on one another for their mere survival. They develop a strong connection, and support one another as they go through hard times in the camp. For instance, while at the camp after his father is deemed too weak to work and taken to the side of those to go the crematorium Eliezer runs to him and in the confusion that ensue both slip back to the safe side. Furthermore, his father learns to value his son and show him affection as he tells his son not to worry and go to sleep , â€Å"Don’t be afraid, son. Sleep—†¦I’ll look after you myself† (Weisel 85). Eliezer has learned to depend on his father and will do anything to keep him by his side. He even prays to God despite of his loss of faith in a God who seems quiet in the midst of their suffering the prisoners are going through in the camp, for the strength never to leave his father as he had sons do to their fathers. He asks God to enable him stay with his father as he had seen Rabbi abandon his father, â€Å"My God, Lord of the Universe, give me the strength never to do what Rabbi Eliahou’s son has done† (Wiesel 87). Father and son strive to survive for the sake of one another as none can imagine how life would be for the other if they died.Advertising Looking for essay on literature languages? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Eliezer protects his father and does not sacrifice him for his own surviva l as so many sons had done to their sons for their own survival. However, as days pass by he starts to feel some resentment toward his father especially when he is unable to protect himself from the cruelty of the guards instead of pitying him. Moreover, towards the end of the book on their way to Buchenwald, his father becomes very weak and cannot move maybe because of fatigue or lose of hope. He leaves his father and sleeps deeply and when he wakes up, he cannot find him and searches for him half-heartedly because a thought tells him maybe he can increase his chance of survival if he were alone. Fortunately, he finds him, â€Å"Father! I’ve been looking for you for so long†¦Where were you? Did you sleep?†¦How do you feel?† (Wiesel 101). He still cares about his father and guilt eats him for his behavior especially when he considers eating the food instead of sharing it with his father. Eliezer is slowly becoming estranged from his father due to the harsh si tuation but he stands by his father who suffers from dysentery. Finally, his father passes on, and he feels a sign of relief and does not cry. However, the experience at the camp and their deep concern for one another that develops overtime helps them to survive and not fall into the temptation of self-preservation that makes a son turn against his father and kill him. Their relationship grows strong albeit Eliezer’s thoughts that he would be better off without his father as the two experience a deep bond that changes both of their lives as they struggle to survive. Work Cited Wiesel, Elie. Night. MacGibbon Kee: New York, 1982. This essay on The Relationship between Eliezer and his Father was written and submitted by user Stephanie I. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.