The theme of hope is present in the book, but it is not overtly apparent. The book is really about a personal struggle for survival and the endurance of the human spirit under extreme dehumanizing conditions.

Spirits are high among the Jews of Sighet at the beginning of Elie Wiesel's memoir because they are in denial about the impending danger. Despite warnings and Moshe the Beadle's harrowing accounts, they refuse to believe the threat of Nazi atrocities, convinced that Hitler cannot harm them. The Germans initially appear benign, reinforcing their optimism. Even when ghettos are established, they see it as temporary, believing they will remain safe until the war ends.

Two hopeful moments include Elie's father surviving the selection process despite poor health, which offers a brief sense of relief and hope. Elie returns his father's "inheritance" of a knife and spoon, symbolizing this hope. Another hopeful moment occurs when the Russian Army approaches the concentration camp, raising hopes of liberation. However, the prisoners are evacuated before the Russians can arrive, diminishing this hope.

The author’s view on hope is that it endures. Despite living through unimaginably horrible conditions, he cannot stifle his hope. Each time something occurs to spark some optimism, Elie's hope to survive revives. We see this when the Russians are nearby. Elie is hopeful that the war will end soon and that the camp will be liberated. We also see this when Elie hopes to survive an operation so that he can continue to live and outlast the war.

The author's view on adversity and hope as they are revealed in Night is that all hope other than the base instinct for individual survival is merely an illusion, and that adversity reveals this truth in time. His father's death represents an even larger shift toward this belief.

A positive symbol conveying hope in Night is the French Girl who tends to Eliezer after he is beaten by Idek. Despite the risk of being killed for speaking to him, she cares for his wounds. Her selfless act represents a rare moment of redemption and hope in an otherwise bleak narrative, illustrating that even in dire circumstances, compassion and humanity can persist.

Jewish optimism in the early pages of Night is reflected through several instances: Elie's determination to study Kabbalah despite his father's discouragement, Moishe's perseverance in warning others after surviving a shooting, and the community's belief in a Russian victory over Germany. The Jews of Sighet maintain hope despite German occupation, restrictions, and eventual ghettoization, believing that life will normalize. Even during deportation, they cling to hope, downplaying the situation's severity with humor and faith in a better outcome.