Quotes With Page Numbers From Night By Elie Wiesel

Elie Wiesel's Night is a harrowing testament to the horrors of the Holocaust, a stark and unforgettable journey through the depths of human suffering. Within its pages lie powerful quotes that encapsulate the unimaginable experiences of Eliezer, a young Jewish boy stripped of his faith, innocence, and family. Referencing these impactful quotes with their corresponding page numbers allows for a deeper understanding and analysis of Wiesel's masterpiece.

The Importance of Context When Analyzing Quotes

Before diving into specific quotes, it's crucial to understand the context in which they appear. Night is not merely a historical account; it's a deeply personal and emotional narrative. Eliezer's transformation from a devout believer to a disillusioned survivor shapes the meaning and impact of his words. Therefore, when examining a quote, consider:

• The Setting: Where and when does the quote appear in the narrative? Is Eliezer in Sighet, in the cattle car, at Auschwitz, or on the death march?
• Eliezer's Emotional State: What is Eliezer feeling at the moment the quote is uttered or thought? Is he filled with fear, anger, despair, or a glimmer of hope?
• The Recipient of the Quote: Is Eliezer speaking to himself, his father, another prisoner, or a guard? The intended audience affects the tone and purpose of the words.
• Thematic Relevance: How does the quote relate to the major themes of the book, such as faith, silence, dehumanization, and survival?

By considering these factors, you can move beyond a superficial understanding of the quotes and appreciate their profound significance.

Quotes Exploring Loss of Faith

One of the most prominent themes in Night is the loss of faith in the face of unspeakable atrocities. Eliezer's initial devotion to Judaism is gradually eroded as he witnesses the systematic extermination of his people and the apparent indifference of God.

"Why should I bless His name? The Eternal, Lord of the Universe, the All-Powerful and Terrible, was silent. What had I to thank Him for?" (Page 67)

This quote marks a turning point in Eliezer's spiritual journey. After witnessing the hanging of a young boy, a particularly agonizing event, Eliezer questions the existence of a benevolent God. He feels abandoned and betrayed, unable to reconcile his faith with the horrors he is witnessing. The rhetorical question reveals his growing resentment and disillusionment. He is not simply questioning God; he is actively rejecting the notion of a just and merciful deity.

"Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp, which has turned my life into one long night, seven times sealed. Never shall I forget that smoke. Never shall I forget the small faces of the children whose bodies I saw transformed into smoke under a silent sky. Never shall I forget those flames which consumed my faith forever." (Page 34)

This powerful passage encapsulates the lasting trauma of Eliezer's first night in Auschwitz. The repetition of "Never shall I forget" emphasizes the indelible mark that this experience has left on his soul. The image of children being burned alive is particularly devastating, symbolizing the destruction of innocence and the ultimate failure of humanity. The flames represent not only the physical destruction of bodies but also the metaphorical destruction of Eliezer's faith.

"Blessed be God's name? Why, but why would I bless Him? Every fiber in me rebelled. Because He caused thousands of children to burn in His mass graves? Because He kept six crematories working day and night, including Sabbath and Yom Kippur? How could I say to Him: Blessed be Thou, Almighty, Master of the Universe, who chose us among all nations to be tortured day and night, to watch as our fathers, our mothers, our brothers, end up in the furnaces? Praised be Thy Holy Name?" (Page 67)

This quote is a direct and defiant challenge to God. Eliezer's anger and bitterness are palpable as he lists the atrocities he has witnessed and questions the justice of a God who would allow such suffering. The use of rhetorical questions underscores his disbelief and his inability to reconcile faith with the reality of the Holocaust. He sarcastically mocks the traditional blessings, highlighting the absurdity of praising a God who seems to have abandoned his people.

"Man comes closer to God through the questions he asks Him, he liked to say. Therein lies true dialogue. Man asks and God replies. But we were formulas ourselves—formulas condemned to vanish." (Page 27)

This quote reveals a shift in Eliezer's understanding of faith and his relationship with God. Before the Holocaust, Eliezer believed in the importance of questioning God as a means of deepening one's faith. However, after experiencing the horrors of Auschwitz, he realizes that his questions are met with silence. He feels reduced to a mere "formula," a statistic in the Nazi's extermination plan, stripped of his individuality and his ability to communicate with God.

Quotes Depicting Dehumanization

Another central theme in Night is the dehumanization of the prisoners in the concentration camps. The Nazis systematically stripped the Jews of their identities, treating them as mere objects to be exploited and exterminated.

"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." (Page 115)

This chilling passage describes Eliezer's reflection after liberation. The image of a "corpse" staring back at him reveals the profound physical and emotional toll that the Holocaust has taken on him. He no longer recognizes himself, having been reduced to a mere shell of his former self. The "look in his eyes" suggests a deep and lasting trauma that will haunt him forever. This quote is a powerful reminder of the dehumanizing effects of the Holocaust, which stripped individuals of their identities and left them scarred for life.

"Faster! Faster! Move, you lazy good-for-nothings!' the whips cracked again. Suddenly, there was one less. The officer had aimed his revolver at an old man who had fallen, and shot him. Immediately, several men detached themselves from the ranks and began to tear at him, taking his clothes. 'Stop! Stop!' someone cried. It was too late. He was naked. Only then did they leave him alone." (Page 87)

This quote illustrates the brutal and dehumanizing conditions of the death march. The prisoners are driven to exhaustion, and those who fall behind are mercilessly killed. The fact that other prisoners immediately strip the dead man of his clothes highlights the desperation and the breakdown of basic human morality in the face of extreme suffering. Survival becomes the only priority, even at the expense of decency and compassion.

"Men were hurling themselves against each other, trampling over each other, tearing at each other. A wild beast had broken loose in them. An animal with teeth bared." (Page 101)

This passage describes the chaotic scene on the train to Buchenwald, where the prisoners are crammed together in inhumane conditions. The struggle for survival has reduced them to their most primal instincts. They are no longer capable of empathy or compassion, driven only by the need to survive. The image of a "wild beast" with "teeth bared" emphasizes the dehumanizing effects of the Holocaust, which turned ordinary people into desperate and ruthless animals.

"They passed me by, like beaten dogs." (Page 60)

This simple but powerful simile captures the prisoners' utter degradation. Comparing them to "beaten dogs" emphasizes their vulnerability, helplessness, and loss of dignity. They are treated as less than human, subjected to constant abuse and humiliation. This image underscores the Nazis' systematic effort to strip the Jews of their humanity and reduce them to mere objects of contempt.

Quotes Reflecting the Father-Son Relationship

The relationship between Eliezer and his father is a central element of Night, providing a glimmer of hope and humanity in the face of unimaginable suffering. Eliezer's devotion to his father is tested time and again, as he struggles to protect him in the brutal conditions of the camps.

"My father's presence was the only thing that stopped me. He was running next to me, out of breath, at the end of his strength. I had no right to let myself die. What would he do without me? I was his sole support." (Page 87)

This quote reveals the depth of Eliezer's commitment to his father. Despite his own exhaustion and despair, he finds the strength to keep going because he knows that his father depends on him. He sees himself as his father's "sole support," and the thought of abandoning him is unbearable. This quote highlights the power of family bonds in the face of adversity and the importance of human connection in maintaining hope.

"I had changed and the roles had been reversed. My father spoke to me not of God but of bread, of soup. Was I dreaming? 'Here, take this knife,' he said. 'You will need it. Here, take this spoon.' " (Page 107)

This quote illustrates the changing dynamics of the father-son relationship as they struggle to survive. Eliezer's father, once a strong and respected figure, has become weak and dependent on his son. He no longer speaks of spiritual matters but focuses on the basic necessities of survival: bread and soup. The act of giving Eliezer the knife and spoon symbolizes the transfer of responsibility and the passing on of the will to survive.

"Perhaps someone here has seen my son?' He was growing weaker, but he still wanted to know. 'My son, Eliezer…' A shadow passed over me. I knew that he must not be found. He was running too fast. And I did not know that he could contain himself. My father was crying." (Page 90)

This quote reveals Eliezer's conflicting emotions towards his father. While he loves his father deeply, he also recognizes that his father's weakness could endanger them both. He fears that his father's desperate search for him will draw unwanted attention and put them at risk. The fact that Eliezer feels a "shadow" pass over him suggests a growing sense of detachment and a willingness to prioritize his own survival, even at the expense of his father's well-being.

"I did not weep, and it pained me that I could not weep. But I had no more tears. And, in the depths of my being, in the recesses of my weakened conscience, could I have searched it, I might perhaps have found something like: Free at last!" (Page 112)

This devastating passage describes Eliezer's reaction to his father's death. He is unable to mourn his father, having become emotionally numb from the horrors he has witnessed. The thought "Free at last!" reveals a disturbing truth about the toll that the Holocaust has taken on him. He has become so focused on survival that he has lost the capacity for grief and compassion. This quote underscores the dehumanizing effects of the Holocaust, which stripped individuals of their emotions and their ability to connect with others.

Quotes Highlighting the Importance of Memory and Bearing Witness

Night serves as a powerful testament to the importance of remembering the Holocaust and bearing witness to the atrocities that were committed. Wiesel's purpose in writing the book is to ensure that the victims are not forgotten and that such horrors never happen again.

"Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp, which has turned my life into one long night, seven times sealed." (Page 34)

As mentioned before, this quote emphasizes the indelible mark that the Holocaust has left on Eliezer's soul. The repetition of "Never shall I forget" serves as a vow to remember the suffering and to share his story with the world. This quote highlights the importance of bearing witness to the atrocities of the Holocaust and ensuring that they are never forgotten.

"For the survivor who chooses to testify, it is clear: his duty is to bear witness… He has no right to let the dead be forgotten." (Wiesel, Afterword)

This quote, from the Afterword, explicitly states Wiesel's purpose in writing Night. He believes that survivors have a moral obligation to bear witness to the horrors they experienced and to ensure that the victims are not forgotten. He sees his writing as a way to honor the memory of those who perished and to prevent such atrocities from happening again.

"To forget the dead would be akin to killing them a second time." (Implied meaning throughout the book)

This idea, while not explicitly stated in one quote, is a recurring theme throughout Night. Wiesel implies that forgetting the victims of the Holocaust would be a betrayal of their memory and a denial of their suffering. By remembering and sharing their stories, we can honor their lives and ensure that their deaths were not in vain. The act of remembering becomes a form of resistance against the forces of oblivion.

"Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." (Implied meaning throughout the book)

This powerful idea is another recurring theme in Night. Wiesel suggests that silence in the face of injustice only emboldens the oppressor. By speaking out against the atrocities of the Holocaust, we can challenge the forces of hatred and intolerance and create a more just and equitable world. Night itself is an act of defiance against silence, a powerful reminder of the importance of speaking truth to power.

Conclusion

The quotes from Night, when analyzed within their proper context, offer profound insights into the horrors of the Holocaust and the enduring power of the human spirit. They reveal the devastating impact of dehumanization, the struggle to maintain faith in the face of unspeakable suffering, and the importance of remembering and bearing witness. By studying these quotes, we can gain a deeper understanding of this dark chapter in history and learn valuable lessons about the dangers of intolerance, prejudice, and indifference. Elie Wiesel's Night remains a timeless and essential work, a call to conscience that resonates across generations. It compels us to confront the past, to remember the victims, and to work towards a future where such atrocities never happen again.