Even after our conversation in class I still find it hard to find faith in Wiesel's writing. I would probably argue with Wiesel that at the end of Night the character does not have any faith, because of the scene where Wiesel enters the first concentration camp and sees the flames. Wiesel says "Never shall I forget the night that consumed my faith forever...that murdered my God and my soul" (34). The rest of the book is written in the past tense but that section switches present tense. I feel he is telling us, as the author 10 years after that event, that his faith had been consumed. I didn't read anything after that to prove he had faith of any kind.
There are places after that where he is questioning God, but I see it as a last hope that God exists. Wiesel offered God multiple chances to prove his existence, and He didn't. In the last third of the book God isn't mentioned at all, as if Wiesel has completely given up the hope that He exists. There may have been more talk of faith in previous revisions, but in Night God disappears, just as Wiesel's faith did.
I agree with Gretchen because after our last class discussion, I found it very hard to prove/disprove that the Elizer (the character) has faith in the ending. If one looks at him now, then yes it is much easier, but there isn’t a clear answer as to whether Elizer had faith at that moment. Just because there is not much mention of God at the end of the book, doesn’t completely mean that there was no more faith. He was at a time in which he doubted God’s existence because of the situation. He witnessed many people praying on the trains and in the camps, but there words didn’t seem to have any effect.
However I feel that if Elizer had completely lost all faith at the last third of the book, he wouldn’t have been able to force himself to continue to survive and continue to push on through the harsh treatments. He even pushed his father to continue on and not to give up and loose hope. Yes I believe that once his father died, Elizer did have doubts in God and that’s probably why he wasn’t mentioned at all in the ending of the book but how could he have continued on with his life and be where he is today, if all faith was lost. I feel it was as though his faith was altered and he was at a point in his life in which he doubted God’s existence (similar to Lewis’ story). Through time however, it is proven that he was able to gain his faith back.
My roommate tricked me into watching “A Serious Man”, telling me that it’s a light-hearted comedy. Not quite so, in fact it turned out to be hauntingly horrifying (ok, I’m exaggerating). But really, it’s like sitting through another Faith and Doubt class. The movie starts with this phrase from Elie Wiesel’s Rashi: “Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you”. A couple of weeks leading up to the protagonist’s (Larry) son’s bar mitzvah, a series of “tragedies” happened – death, divorce, threats, professional problems etc. As Larry’s life falls apart he consults the rabbis in the community, and the rabbis’ Candide-like optimism is disturbing. The rabbis offer inadequate and irrelevant responses to life’s trauma, and tell Larry that “Hashem” does not owe him anything. He, in fact, owes Hashem everything. Probably not the best advice. Larry “shares” what he learns with his students [he’s a Physics Professor who confuses students with his teachings (although, which Professor doesn’t)]: “Even if you can’t figure it out, you’re still responsible for it on the midterm”. And I think this perfectly sums up the notion of “faith”.
I believe Wiesel needed time to heal to forgive god for his injustice.I do not think he lost his faith at any point,since he continuously reprimands god throughout the book.A person who is raised with a deep rooted faith in god,eventually turns back to him.He may view god in a totally different light,but still acknowledges his presence.I admire Wiesels courage to come forward ,and hopefully make a difference!
Even after our conversation in class I still find it hard to find faith in Wiesel's writing. I would probably argue with Wiesel that at the end of Night the character does not have any faith, because of the scene where Wiesel enters the first concentration camp and sees the flames. Wiesel says "Never shall I forget the night that consumed my faith forever...that murdered my God and my soul" (34). The rest of the book is written in the past tense but that section switches present tense. I feel he is telling us, as the author 10 years after that event, that his faith had been consumed. I didn't read anything after that to prove he had faith of any kind.
ReplyDeleteThere are places after that where he is questioning God, but I see it as a last hope that God exists. Wiesel offered God multiple chances to prove his existence, and He didn't. In the last third of the book God isn't mentioned at all, as if Wiesel has completely given up the hope that He exists. There may have been more talk of faith in previous revisions, but in Night God disappears, just as Wiesel's faith did.
I agree with Gretchen because after our last class discussion, I found it very hard to prove/disprove that the Elizer (the character) has faith in the ending. If one looks at him now, then yes it is much easier, but there isn’t a clear answer as to whether Elizer had faith at that moment. Just because there is not much mention of God at the end of the book, doesn’t completely mean that there was no more faith. He was at a time in which he doubted God’s existence because of the situation. He witnessed many people praying on the trains and in the camps, but there words didn’t seem to have any effect.
ReplyDeleteHowever I feel that if Elizer had completely lost all faith at the last third of the book, he wouldn’t have been able to force himself to continue to survive and continue to push on through the harsh treatments. He even pushed his father to continue on and not to give up and loose hope. Yes I believe that once his father died, Elizer did have doubts in God and that’s probably why he wasn’t mentioned at all in the ending of the book but how could he have continued on with his life and be where he is today, if all faith was lost. I feel it was as though his faith was altered and he was at a point in his life in which he doubted God’s existence (similar to Lewis’ story). Through time however, it is proven that he was able to gain his faith back.
My roommate tricked me into watching “A Serious Man”, telling me that it’s a light-hearted comedy. Not quite so, in fact it turned out to be hauntingly horrifying (ok, I’m exaggerating). But really, it’s like sitting through another Faith and Doubt class. The movie starts with this phrase from Elie Wiesel’s Rashi: “Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you”. A couple of weeks leading up to the protagonist’s (Larry) son’s bar mitzvah, a series of “tragedies” happened – death, divorce, threats, professional problems etc. As Larry’s life falls apart he consults the rabbis in the community, and the rabbis’ Candide-like optimism is disturbing. The rabbis offer inadequate and irrelevant responses to life’s trauma, and tell Larry that “Hashem” does not owe him anything. He, in fact, owes Hashem everything. Probably not the best advice.
ReplyDeleteLarry “shares” what he learns with his students [he’s a Physics Professor who confuses students with his teachings (although, which Professor doesn’t)]: “Even if you can’t figure it out, you’re still responsible for it on the midterm”. And I think this perfectly sums up the notion of “faith”.
I believe Wiesel needed time to heal to forgive god for his injustice.I do not think he lost his faith at any point,since he continuously reprimands god throughout the book.A person who is raised with a deep rooted faith in god,eventually turns back to him.He may view god in a totally different light,but still acknowledges his presence.I admire Wiesels courage to come forward ,and hopefully make a difference!
ReplyDelete