The theme of suffering in Night by Elie Wiesel is a profound exploration of the physical, emotional, and spiritual pain experienced during the Holocaust. Wiesel's narrative captures the relentless torment faced by the victims, highlighting the darkness and horror of their experiences. The suffering is depicted through the harsh realities of life in concentration camps, the loss of family, and the struggle to maintain faith amidst overwhelming despair.

One of the most harrowing depictions of suffering is through the character of Eliezer's father, who suffers from dysentery. The contaminated water in the camps, filled with fecal matter, becomes a source of poison rather than relief. Eliezer is torn between the knowledge that water will worsen his father's condition and the desperate pleas of his dying father. This situation underscores the cruel irony of their suffering, where basic necessities become lethal. Eliezer reflects,

I knew that he must not drink. But he pleaded with me so long that I gave in. Water was the worst poison for him, but what else could I do for him? With or without water, it would be over soon anyway.

This moment captures the helplessness and inevitability of death in the camps.

The use of "night" in the narrative symbolizes the pervasive darkness and terror of the Holocaust. The recurring imagery of night represents the physical and psychological suffering endured by the victims. Mrs. Schachter's vision of fire during the train ride to Auschwitz foreshadows the crematoria, while the darkness outside the train mirrors the unknown horrors ahead. Upon arrival at Birkenau, the flames and the smell of burning flesh confirm the nightmare,

In front of us, those flames. In the air, the smell of burning flesh. It must have been around midnight. We had arrived. In Birkenau.

The continuous "last nights" before each traumatic event further emphasize the endless cycle of suffering.

Wiesel's narrative does not offer simple solutions or rationales for the Holocaust. Instead, it presents the complexity of human evil and the failure of humanity to prevent such suffering. The narrative challenges readers to confront the dissolution of human bonds and the inaction of nations. The moments of "Never Shall I Forget" and the child hanging from the gallows are poignant explorations of human cruelty and suffering. Wiesel's work compels readers to examine their own lives and moral responsibilities, acknowledging that everyone bears a share of the blame for allowing such atrocities to occur.