Complacency In Elie Wiesel's Night

Complacency is a known enemy but in many ways an invisible one. It will come and go and yet the effects will not always be apparent. This trait is not a result of any personality inadequacy or carelessness toward obligations. Complacency takes place when people are content with their current accomplishments. It ensues when the work becomes tedious and there in no ambition to achieve anymore. When this occurs, the desire to stay ahead naturally subsides and the internal drive has come to a halt. In addition, many become complacent because they do not want to stir up unnecessary controversy as they fear what others will think and how they will react. Together these components hinder any further development; in fact after some time complacency …show more content…
“The Hungarian Police used their rifle butts, their clubs to indiscriminately strike old men and women, children and cripples” (Wiesel 16). There are two examples, of complacency pertaining to this situation. One, the Jewish people did not fight back, they did not try to stop the police from striking the other, they instead remained idle out of fear. Two, the non Jewish members that used to live in Sighet amongst the Jews did not do anything to venture to help the Jews when they were taken out of their homes and stripped from their old lives. They used to pass each other in the streets, they saw each other’s children grow up and when awful activity began happening to the Jews, the others did zilch. They acted as if it wasn't their problem, they were still living in their homes, they still had their prized possessions. Were they scared of what might happen to them or were they just being selfish? It can be perceived as a combination of both selfishness and fear. It’s hard to differentiate between the two because essentially it’s selfish to worry more about yourself than about someone