Journal

1-10 (January 5, 2007)

The novel starts off describing a typical human lifestyle. It could even be seen as a typical plot for a movie – a young boy, the only one in the family, with a passion for Judaism and a father that has other wishes for him. This familiarity reinstates the fact that these people were human beings and could have been any one of us. It is hard to believe that the minor difference that set them apart from the rest of humanity could have driven the Germans to do such a thing. It surprises me how sudden it all happened, especially to the foreign Jews – How could an entire nation be won over by the evil thoughts and words of one man? I also do not understand why the rest of the Jews did not heed the warnings and take action or flee the area. Something as terrible as this is hard to believe, but it also strikes a question: how low can the possibility of something similar to this happening nowadays really be? It could happen just as sudden, at any moment (even as I am writing this). I mean, these events only took place just over sixty years ago.

11-20 (January 5, 2007)

It’s hard to imagine how these people lived – how they went on so optimistically, always waiting for a miracle. Their homes were ransacked, barred, gated – then they were taken away completely. I would have lost all faith and probably gone insane, especially reflecting back on what Moshe the Beadle had told about the Forest of Galicia. Why didn’t they all flee the small ghetto with no gates on it? Why didn’t they hide until the front was close enough so they would be safe? I also wonder what the soldiers responsible for this could have thought. . .did they have no morals or conscience or compassion? Did they believe they were serving a higher good? These people were treated like cattle – rallied, lined up, herded into an overstuffed building, and shipped away in groups. I can’t imagine that there would be people able to do that to a human being. No matter how many times you hear it, how many facts are presented, it is still hard to believe that all of this happened.

21-30 (January 6, 2007)

The Jews were treated like soulless, heartless animals and packed into transport cars of eighty people a piece. Elie Wiesel stated “The lucky ones who happened to be near a window could see the blossoming countryside roll by” (Pg 21). It’s hard to think that anyone in that situation could be considered lucky. All of these people were stuck with no room to even sit for days while they were brought closer and closer to hell. They couldn’t escape or even try, as they were warned “If anyone is missing, you’ll all be shot, like dogs. . .” (Pg 22) And if the Jews were dogs, what did it make the Germans? – Rats. And people did go crazy, like Madame Schachter who kept seeing flames about as if she was in hell itself (which she wasn’t far from). “Her little boy was crying, hanging onto her skirt trying to take hold of her hands. ‘It’s alright, Mummy! There’s there. . .Sit down. . .’” (Pg 23) It’s horrible to see this – a boy who is worse than alone, because he has a mother that can’t acknowledge his existence. When they got to the camp, I read the word “Auschwitz” and became literally disgusted by it. That place is truly hell. To separate families forever, enslave people, and burn them, murder them, abuse them – like less than animals.

31-40 (January 6, 2007)

When they were marching towards the furnace, Elie said “I’m going to run to the electric wire. That would be better than slow agony in the flames” (Pg 31). This was sort of smart thinking of him (If he was going to be burned), but if he had gone through with it, imagine what we would not know or have today? Elie also starts to doubt his faith, which is always horrible. At a time like that I could imagine losing hope, but it is all you have to hold on to. His quote “Never shall I forget those flames which consumed my faith forever,” (Pg 32) I thought, was very powerful. But with the word “forever” does that mean that to this day, he still does not have faith? All of the men seem happy when they meet. The joy that is shown by them to have one another shows a very powerful connection between these people. I believe that having loved ones around them was the only way anyone made it through – having the support and comfort of others. I didn’t really understand what was meant by the sign that said “Work is liberty! Auschwitz”. I really liked the encouraging speech from the head of Block 17 where Elie stayed. It was a real message of hope and probably comforted many of the distraught men there.

41-50 (January 6, 2007)

It seems that everyone there works really hard to make other people feel better. Like when Elie lied to Stein and told him that his mother “had heard news from [his] family. Reizel is very well. The children too. . . “(Pg 41) when he really didn’t know anything. And I could also see it in Stein when he brought Elie bread when he was very skinny himself. It must have been horrible for the Jewish people to be paraded through town only to be scorned at wile being transported. I’ve noticed that Wiesel describes all of the Germans as ugly or evil-looking, such as he describes one with “an assassin’s face, fleshy lips, wolf’s paws” (Pg 45). I can’t help but wonder if they really looked like that or if he psychologically related such evil deeds done by the most grotesque beings and so creates and image for them. I thought it was really nice that the French girl Elie worked next to helped him with his wounds even though she was probably risking a beating herself. I wonder if her and Elie will become involved.

51-60 (January 7, 2007)

It was nice to know that the French girl survived through the end of the war along with Elie. She made a lot of smart moves before and during her capture. The affect the concentration camp has on its victims is not only great physically but emotionally and psychologically as well. With his father, Elie even becomes “angry with him, not knowing how to avoid Idek’s outbreak” (Pg 52) instead of sympathizing for him. When Elie got whipped, it was very horrible to read about. In his condition, it’s surprising that he didn’t nearly die from 25 whips. I thought the part where everyone was gathered around the unguarded cauldrons was very sad. Those people were so hungry that they were almost willing to risk their life for some food, but too afraid of the torture they would get for attempting it. Elie referred to it as “A feast for kings” (Pg 56) when many people would see it as inedible gruel. It also puzzled me why the bombing of the camp was so short, and didn’t fulfill much. Why weren’t rescue troops sent in?


61-70 (January 7, 2007)

When they hung the little boy – the angel with the sad eyes – it was like killing hope. Like taking away all that was holy in the camp. When he died, Eliezer’s god went with him. It’s a shame that Elie gave up on his faith and despised God, but who could blame him, being in such a situation. He had lived a life passionate about religion, then he entered hell. It’s hard to know what Elie’s dad was thinking. I don’t believe that he had faith either, but only stuck around and tried to survive for his son. Selection is disgusting. Imagine the fear felt to be stripped down, lined up, and examined like sick animals, knowing that you could be chosen to be killed right then and there.

71-80 (January 7, 2007)

It made me happy to read that Elie’s dad had escaped the second selection and they could stay together. I wonder if they will be together until the very end. The man next to Elie in the hospital was very disturbing. How could someone discourage the spirit of another when both are going through the same misery? Elie must have so many regrets for not staying in the hospital – have comfort and warmth until he was rescued. That made me feel even more sorry for him than I already did. Even his father could have been saved. How old is Elie at this point?

81-90 (January 7, 2007)

I can’t believe all those crippled, freezing tired men ran over forty-two miles in the snow. I could not imagine myself doing that even in good health. What on earth encouraged them to go for so long? Was it fear? Was it hope? Their resting area was very depressing. Cold, lonely men in the middle of a deserted town dying one-by-one. No emotion. No sorrow.

91-100 (January 7, 2007)

Starved. Hopeless. Nowhere to go but into an icy grave. “I tried to distinguished those who were still alive from those who had gone. But there was not difference.” These people were turned savage – they went crazy to get just a bit of food. They killed and robbed their friends and family. Spectators watched as they fought for food. It was like a zoo only the animals watched the people. When they arrived at Buchenwald, “Hundreds of prisoners were crowding there.” – not thousands anymore. I really don’t like it when Elie and his father are about to be separated or about to die. I’m not looking forward to when that happens.

101-109 (January 7, 2007)

His father died so near the end. If only he had held on for a little while. Eliezer’s whole life was gone, ruined, taken from him. What would he do with his life when he was set free? And the rest of the prisoners? This shows tremendous effort and courage to put a lost soul to a great cause as Elie Wiesel did. “And even when we were no longer hungry, there was still no one who thought of revenge” (Pg 109). Does Elie still feel this way? Does he have regrets? Does he now feel sorry for all of the corpses he would pass daily? Or has the affect of the concentration camps scarred him forever?