Night

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Excerpt

Night, Chapter 3

Eight short, simple words…

• Men to the left, women to the right! These words separated Elie from his mother and sister forever, as well as countless other husbands and wives, mothers and sons, fathers and daughters.

The Weak are Worthless

• An old man was shot dead on arrival, as he was unable to work and would not benefit the camp in any way.

What’s your age?

• Elie and his father were told to lie about their age; saying that they were 18 and 40 would get them into the barracks, whereas 15 and 50 would send them to the crematorium, as they were less useful and self sufficient.

Never lose faith…

• Elie’s father reminded him to never lose faith, even when “the sword hangs over your head… these are the teachings of our sages”

Burning the Babies

• When Elie saw a truck full of babies being burned in a large ditch, he questions how the world can keep silent. His father reminds him that “humanity is not concerned with us; today, everything is allowed”.

Consuming his Faith

• Elie says that these very flames from “consumed his faith forever”

Disinfection

• All prisoners were soaked in petrol (gasoline), given a hot shower, and told to put on their prison uniforms. Most of these did not fit properly, and prisoners were forced to swap with one another.

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Low-level notes over Elie Weisel's Night, Chapter 3