Jewish Life After Release From The Concentration Camps

In Night, Elie Wiesel presents the reader with a portrayal of what life was like after release from the camps. Wiesel’s vivid portrayal is a reflection of the life Holocaust Survivors had to endure. Evidence from the story that supports this is “Our first act as free men was to throw ourselves onto the provisions…From the depths of the mirror, a corpse gazed back at me. The look in his eyes, as they stared into mine, has never left me.” Pg.77 From this direct quotation, one can tell that the children along with Elie Wiesel had a very difficult time adjusting to life after release from the camps. Elie Wiesel is a true representation of a Holocaust survivor because he loses his family along with all of his belongings, gets put through concentration camp and lives to tell about it. Elie Wiesel’s family life reflects the events a holocaust survivor had to endure after release from concentration camps. The absence of his family life establishes a distinct image of tranquility or horror depending on the situation. Evidence from the story that supports this is “In stiffened corpse I saw myself. And soon I should not even see them: I should be one of them- a matter of hours.” Pg.59 From this direct quotation you can tell that the holocaust survivors were very grateful to live through the camps because many jews including their family members were dying at a rapid pace. Eliezer’s lack of family structure defines his character throughout his ordeal because he had to adjust to being alone and in the end his lack of family structure made him a stronger and wiser person. During the first half of the twentieth century, the life of a European Jew was defined by the certain point in life he or she lived in. For example, Jewish Social Life played an important role in life after release from the concentration camps because the Jews were having a difficult time trying to get back to living a normal life in the midst of the aftermath of the Holocaust.