A major theme in Night is the questioning of God. Many people had devoted their lives to God, their savior, and it is inconceivable that He would do such things to them. I found it surprising how long people maintained faith in such a god. I found myself questioning how quickly I would have lost faith in God had He put me through a trial such as this one. “I no longer pleaded for anything. I was no longer able to lament. On the contrary, I felt very strong. I was the accuser, God the accused” (68). Elie begins to lose faith, for he has seen what God can do and recalls all the times that He solved imperfections by destruction and death.
“And I, the former mystic, was thinking: Yes, man is stronger, greater than God. When Adam and Eve deceived You, You chased them from paradise. When You were displeased by Noah's generation, You brought down the Flood. When Sodom lost Your favor, You caused the heavens to rain down fire and damnation. But look at these men whom You have betrayed, allowing them to be tortured, slaughtered, gassed, and burned, what do they do? They pray before You! They praise Your name!” (67-68). This passage shows to me that what he experienced was so powerful and agonizing that he begins to question his whole life. This moment was so powerful for him that he can remember it all these years later. This is when he changed.
Ben,
ReplyDeleteGreat post! When you say "This passage shows to me that what he experienced was so powerful and agonizing that he begins to question his whole life." I have a slightly different take on the reason for what Elie is feeling in that moment. To me it seems if someone had gone into a concentration camp without belief in God, they would come out the same, scarred emotionally yes, but their stance on God would be the same, and so they wouldn't question their entire life in the way Elie does. I think Elie questions his life after he decides in God's non-existence, because Judaism was such a big part of his life before then. I'm not sure if that's what you thought too, it was a little bit hard to understand. Great work! Keep it up!
Awesome! I really liked how you talked about god and how the people stay so loyal to him. I agree. Yes Elie does start to lose faith. Your second quote and explanation was very strong. Nice post.
ReplyDeleteAwesome! I really liked how you talked about god and how the people stay so loyal to him. I agree. Yes Elie does start to lose faith. Your second quote and explanation was very strong. Nice post.
ReplyDeleteBen,
ReplyDeleteThe textual evidence that you use and your explanation of how you share your beliefs are very strong. I agree with you when you start talking about losing faith because that is what is happening.Very good post.
Thomas