The Forgotten By Elie Wiesel Analysis

The Forgotten by Elie Wiesel, is a story that focuses on unlocking the past. Today in one’s old age, progressive forgetfulness is commonly referred to as Alzheimer’s disease. However, at the time that this book was written it was assumed that amnesia was the cause of the minds decomposition.
At the beginning of the novel, the author hints at Elhanan Rosenbaum’s struggle to hold on to memories and as the story unfolds the reader finds out that he has been diagnosed with amnesia, which will eventually lead to his demise. However, before his time is up, Elhanan asks his son Malkiel to travel to the village where he once lived and uncover a mystery from his past. Upon arriving in his father’s village, Malkiel is in total disarray of what he is supposed to find. However, Wiesel …show more content…
For instance, at the beginning of his journey Malkiel, a New York Times journalist is characterized as a caring man who is often tempted by loving women. Throughout his journey he uncovers about himself that although he may get caught up in the lust of women, Tamar (who is strikingly similar to his mother) will be the only woman he will ever love. In addition, after meeting Hershel the gravedigger who is considered the “Last Jew” of the village, the stories that he shares offers a piece of the puzzle in Malkiel’s quest. On different occasions where the two of them have drinks, Hershel shares that he has lived in the village since the war witnessing and the escaping the death that came with it. In his stories, Hershel also shares with Malkiel that he knew his grandfather, also named Malkiel Rosenbaum, revealing the good-naturedness of his