Inhumanity is Not Inevitable
Morality is what separates humans from animals. Humans learn to reflect upon their actions and to judge them against moral codes, but this capacity can fade when extreme external pressures threaten their survival. Animals, however, do not have this ability, they do not think about their actions.They are fierce and unforgiving, only concerned about their own wellbeing. People who are put through an extended amount of hardship may experience their morality dwindling without them even realizing it or they could have been desensitized from the beginning, making them the animals. The Holocaust was a challenge to human morality. Elie Wiesel's book, Night, reveals that in the concentration camps inhumanity was rampant, …show more content…
It is not expressed by their actions in the book if they ever felt any guilt towards their wrongdoings. For example, Wiesel describes in the first few moments of arriving in Birkenau there was a selection, for the unlucky that meant the crematorium. The SS were acting as if they were God (29). This is just one example of the SS being capable of such cruelty. They sent thousands of people to die simply because they were weak, of the wrong age, or gender. Another example of lack of morality is when Wiesel’s father was desperately asking for water. He was being too loud when they were meant to be silent. As a consequence, “The officer...dealt him a violent blow to the head;” this is a clear indicator of physical brutality (111). Lastly, perhaps the sharpest example of the SS inhumanity was during the evacuation from Buna when the SS "did not deprive themselves of the pleasure" of shooting those who fell behind (85). Wiesel said it himself, the SS took pleasure in what they were …show more content…
While being in situations that made them consider going down the wrong path they were able to overcome the urge and leave with their morality. Wiesel being the prominent example of this had many instances where he had a strong inclination to be inhumane to try to make his life more bearable. For example when they are in Buchenwald and Wiesel’s father is becoming very weak with dysentery. Instead of taking his father’s ration of soup and bread like the Blockälteste advised, Wiesel gave some of his soup to his father (111). This is a very clear example of how Wiesel had not lost his humanity. Also anytime Wiesel even thought about giving up on his father instantly “ [he] felt ashamed of [himself] forever,” (106). Lastly, Juliek would be another example of someone who kept their humanity until their dying breath. In Gleiwitz all that can be heard in the crowded barracks of dying men is Juliek playing Beethoven on his violin. He gives everything that is left in him to play the piece for those around him; he is found dead in the morning, the violin crushed. (95). The loss of humanity does not happen to everyone, it can be avoided with a strong set of moral
Morality is what separates humans from animals. Humans learn to reflect upon their actions and to judge them against moral codes, but this capacity can fade when extreme external pressures threaten their survival. Animals, however, do not have this ability, they do not think about their actions.They are fierce and unforgiving, only concerned about their own wellbeing. People who are put through an extended amount of hardship may experience their morality dwindling without them even realizing it or they could have been desensitized from the beginning, making them the animals. The Holocaust was a challenge to human morality. Elie Wiesel's book, Night, reveals that in the concentration camps inhumanity was rampant, …show more content…
It is not expressed by their actions in the book if they ever felt any guilt towards their wrongdoings. For example, Wiesel describes in the first few moments of arriving in Birkenau there was a selection, for the unlucky that meant the crematorium. The SS were acting as if they were God (29). This is just one example of the SS being capable of such cruelty. They sent thousands of people to die simply because they were weak, of the wrong age, or gender. Another example of lack of morality is when Wiesel’s father was desperately asking for water. He was being too loud when they were meant to be silent. As a consequence, “The officer...dealt him a violent blow to the head;” this is a clear indicator of physical brutality (111). Lastly, perhaps the sharpest example of the SS inhumanity was during the evacuation from Buna when the SS "did not deprive themselves of the pleasure" of shooting those who fell behind (85). Wiesel said it himself, the SS took pleasure in what they were …show more content…
While being in situations that made them consider going down the wrong path they were able to overcome the urge and leave with their morality. Wiesel being the prominent example of this had many instances where he had a strong inclination to be inhumane to try to make his life more bearable. For example when they are in Buchenwald and Wiesel’s father is becoming very weak with dysentery. Instead of taking his father’s ration of soup and bread like the Blockälteste advised, Wiesel gave some of his soup to his father (111). This is a very clear example of how Wiesel had not lost his humanity. Also anytime Wiesel even thought about giving up on his father instantly “ [he] felt ashamed of [himself] forever,” (106). Lastly, Juliek would be another example of someone who kept their humanity until their dying breath. In Gleiwitz all that can be heard in the crowded barracks of dying men is Juliek playing Beethoven on his violin. He gives everything that is left in him to play the piece for those around him; he is found dead in the morning, the violin crushed. (95). The loss of humanity does not happen to everyone, it can be avoided with a strong set of moral