Argument Essay The Holocaust is one of the most prominent examples of the fact that when compassion is removed, man is no better than beast, set on destroying each other. Through first hand experiences, not fully perceivable, unless one has lived them, Night by Elie Wiesel, demonstrate why compassion is imperative to survival.
One Prime example of this is in the beginning on the first train ride: ““Mrs. Schachter had lost her mind…she had been separated from her family…and… became hysterical. …a piercing cry broke the silence: “Fire I see a fire! I see a fire!...Our nerves had reached a breaking point… A few young men forced her to sit down, then bound and gagged her.” (24-26) In this instance the community, (people in the train car) …show more content…
A Gypsy inmate was in charge. My father suddenly had a colic attack. He got up and asked politely, in German, “Excuse me… Could you tell me where the toilets are located?" The Gypsy stared at him for a long time, from head to toe. As if he wished to ascertain that the person addressing him was actually…a human being with a body and a belly. Then, as if waking from a deep sleep, he slapped my father with such force that he fell down and then crawled back to his place on all fours.”(39) By placing this man in a position of power it robs him of compassion for those below him, so much so that he thinks nothing of the lives of those under him, much less their comfort. Finally, Eliezer shows his compassion (though, begrudgingly) to his father, doing everything he can, to extend his life : “ "They didn't give us anything …They said that we were sick, that we would die soon, and that it would be a waste of food …I can't go on … "I gave him what was left of my soup. But my heart was heavy. (107) Eliezer’s compassion for his father does not waver until the day he lets his fear overcome him, the day his compassion for his father ends is the day his father’s life
One Prime example of this is in the beginning on the first train ride: ““Mrs. Schachter had lost her mind…she had been separated from her family…and… became hysterical. …a piercing cry broke the silence: “Fire I see a fire! I see a fire!...Our nerves had reached a breaking point… A few young men forced her to sit down, then bound and gagged her.” (24-26) In this instance the community, (people in the train car) …show more content…
A Gypsy inmate was in charge. My father suddenly had a colic attack. He got up and asked politely, in German, “Excuse me… Could you tell me where the toilets are located?" The Gypsy stared at him for a long time, from head to toe. As if he wished to ascertain that the person addressing him was actually…a human being with a body and a belly. Then, as if waking from a deep sleep, he slapped my father with such force that he fell down and then crawled back to his place on all fours.”(39) By placing this man in a position of power it robs him of compassion for those below him, so much so that he thinks nothing of the lives of those under him, much less their comfort. Finally, Eliezer shows his compassion (though, begrudgingly) to his father, doing everything he can, to extend his life : “ "They didn't give us anything …They said that we were sick, that we would die soon, and that it would be a waste of food …I can't go on … "I gave him what was left of my soup. But my heart was heavy. (107) Eliezer’s compassion for his father does not waver until the day he lets his fear overcome him, the day his compassion for his father ends is the day his father’s life