During the Holocaust up to six million Jews were killed. And the similar theme, at the very least, that of death, is portrayed in the book Night, by Elie Wiesel. In this first hand account of the Holocaust Wiesel is a Jewish fifteen-year old who is sent to the most infamous Polish concentration camp: Auschwitz. What may not be understood by most about the Holocaust is that it was caused the mass proliferation of fanaticism in Germany. In light of this, the themes of Night are painting a warning against fanaticism by explaining what can truly happen when this sentiment becomes pervasive. Night is warning against the evils of this mentality by including the themes of dehumanization and death. To reiterate, the book becomes a warning because it
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From then on I had no other name.” Because the inmates were referred to as simply numbers they were stripped of their humanity. This is because in human culture our names are something we hold dear to ourselves, and they, in a way, define us. Due to this connection to one’s name, when it is stolen from someone the outcome can be emotionally detrimental. This is what happened during Night and the Holocaust, and because it was a large part of the book it is warning against fanaticism. Secondly, the inmates were habitually referred to as dogs by the SS, which were the Nazis who ran the camps. This dehumanized the prisoners because they were treated like animals, more specifically, dogs, and were called them, as well. This was impactful because the label of “dog” is almost always derogatory, and its connotations are filthy, inferior, and disgusting beings. Consequently, being repetitively called this word, dehumanized the inmates. This once again warned against the evils of fanaticism because it depicted how the inmates were treated terribly and through the depictions, a warning was fabricated. By providing obvious instances of dehumanization -- specifically that of prisoners being relegated to simple numbers instead of actual names and people, and being continually referred to as dogs -- Wiesel is warning the reader of fascism and the maltreatment it
From then on I had no other name.” Because the inmates were referred to as simply numbers they were stripped of their humanity. This is because in human culture our names are something we hold dear to ourselves, and they, in a way, define us. Due to this connection to one’s name, when it is stolen from someone the outcome can be emotionally detrimental. This is what happened during Night and the Holocaust, and because it was a large part of the book it is warning against fanaticism. Secondly, the inmates were habitually referred to as dogs by the SS, which were the Nazis who ran the camps. This dehumanized the prisoners because they were treated like animals, more specifically, dogs, and were called them, as well. This was impactful because the label of “dog” is almost always derogatory, and its connotations are filthy, inferior, and disgusting beings. Consequently, being repetitively called this word, dehumanized the inmates. This once again warned against the evils of fanaticism because it depicted how the inmates were treated terribly and through the depictions, a warning was fabricated. By providing obvious instances of dehumanization -- specifically that of prisoners being relegated to simple numbers instead of actual names and people, and being continually referred to as dogs -- Wiesel is warning the reader of fascism and the maltreatment it