Night, by Elie Wiesel is a life story of the main character Elie, his family, and all the victims of the holocaust. The main idea of this book is to get people to understand the pain and suffering of the Jewish people during the Holocaust. Because of cruel incidents, Jewish people felt as if they had no lives. The Jewish prisoners went to any length to stay alive; lying, killing, and even betraying their own family. Jewish prisoners knew nothing about how to survive the deadly concentration camp called Auschwitz. Most Jewish prisoners were thrown into ditches to burn if they weren't the right age or if they looked too weak to work. Elie and his father lied about their ages to pass the first selection. By lying about their ages, they were viewed as more in shape to work. The prisoners actually came to realize Work was freedom at Auschwitz. Lying became common with the Jews to pass selections. Supplies of food were limited, as a result killing for crumbs happened daily. For example, a son fought his father for bread. The father said Meir, my boy! Don't you recognize me? I"m your father. you"re hurting me.you"re killing your father! I've got some bread.for you too.for you too." This shows how the Holocaust made people betray each other. It was as if Jewish people lost their feelings for each other on the first day at camp, because when someone died no one cared. Family betraying family took place during marches to new camps. A boy and his father had to run as fast as they could for as long as possible until the S.S. soldiers said they could stop. The penalty would be death if a prisoner decided to slow down. A boy realized his father was weak and starting to slow down with him and instead of slowing down with him, the boy decided to run faster and leave his father for dead, for his own protection .
