Characters and Summary of 'Night' Flashcards

Author and Context

• Elie Wiesel is the author of "Night."
• Written in Paris during the mid-1950s.

Point of View and Timeline

• The narrative is presented from the first-person perspective of Eliezer, the protagonist.
• Events chronologically occur from 1941 to 1945 during World War II.

Major Themes and Conflicts

• Main conflict revolves around Eliezer's experience of Nazi persecution and a profound crisis of faith in God and humanity.
• The rising action includes Eliezer's harrowing journey through various concentration camps.

Climax and Symbolism

• The climax features the death of Eliezer's father, deeply affecting him.
• Important symbols include Night, representing darkness and loss, and Fire, symbolizing destruction and death.

Key Characters

• Eliezer: The narrator whose psychological journey reflects the loss of faith and humanity during the Holocaust while showing devotion to his father.
• Shlomo: Eliezer's father, respected in the community, plays a crucial role in Eliezer's life as they strive to stay together.
• Moshe the Beadle: Eliezer’s Jewish mysticism teacher who warns the community after escaping deportation but is dismissed as a madman.
• Akiba Drumer: A Jewish character who loses faith due to the horrors he experiences.
• Madame Schächter: A woman who predicts the crematoria’s presence at Auschwitz, initially dismissed as insane.
• Juliek: A young musician who Eliezer meets and later hears playing after a death march.
• Tibi and Yosi: Brothers and Zionists who befriend Eliezer, sharing dreams of moving to Palestine post-war.

Notable Figures from the Camps

• Dr. Josef Mengele: Infamous doctor at Auschwitz, known for cruel selections and inhumane experiments, dubbed the "Angel of Death."
• Franek: Eliezer’s foreman at Buna, who forcibly extracts Eliezer's gold tooth.
• Rabbi Eliahou: A devout prisoner whose son abandons him, prompting Eliezer to reflect on his own values.
• Zalman: A fellow prisoner trampled during a forced march.
• Meir Katz: Eliezer's father's friend who defends him from an attacker.
• Stein: Eliezer’s relative trying to maintain hope about his family’s well-being amidst despair.

Family Ties

• Hilda: Eliezer’s oldest sister.
• Béa: Eliezer’s middle sister.
• Tzipora: Eliezer’s youngest sister.

Summary of the Narrative

• "Night" chronicles Elie Wiesel's harrowing experiences as a young Jewish boy subjected to the traumas of the Holocaust, starting from the establishment of ghettos to his family's deportation to concentration camps.