Examples Of Dehumanization In Elie Wiesel's Night

In Elie Wiesel’s Night there are several examples of the physical, mental, and emotional dehumanization strategies used by the Nazis. One of the prime examples of this dehumanization is when Eliezer has an identification number tattooed on his arm and Wiesel writes, “I became A-7713. From then on, I had no other name” (Wiesel 42). This quote shows clear dehumanization because Eliezer feels like he is nothing more than a number, and most likely the Nazis feel this way too. Eliezer and the other prisoners start to look at each other and themselves as less than human because of the way the Nazis treat them. This makes them easier to control and makes it more likely for them to turn on each other. As the prisoners are dehumanized, you see them begin to lose their hope. Akiba Drumer is an example of a character that gradually lost his hope as he was dehumanized …show more content…
The worst way to be dehumanized in mentally because it directly affects your physical and emotional states, as well. Being mentally drained can completely change a person’s personality and deteriorate their physical state. When the prisoners lose their last bit of hope, they lose their will to live. A very clear example is Stein, Eliezer’s relative. Stein asks Eliezer if he knows anything about his wife and children, and Eliezer lies and says that they are fine, even though he and his mother have not gotten a letter from them since 1940. Stein says, “The only thing that keeps me alive is to know that Reizel and the little ones are still alive. Were it not for them, I would give up” (Wiesel 45). Stein’s physical state has deteriorated to the point that he is visibly skinny and weak, but he still has his mental strength. When Stein gets the “real news” (Wiesel 45) he is never heard from again and is presumed to have given up and died. As soon as he was dehumanized mentally, he could not carry on any