Elie Wiesel Character Analysis

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"I don't know how I survived; I was weak, rather shy; I did nothing to save myself. A miracle? Certainly not." Elie Wiesel is a Holocaust surviver who went from a devoted follower to an accuser of God's existence. In one long year, Elie watched as his family was torn apart; his friends, along with himself, lost all hope. He watched millions of strangers, just like him, be murdered right in front of him, along with many others. By the end of his tragic experience, he had lost a mother, a father, his sister Tzipora, and all faith in God. Elie, at a time before his suffering, had believed full-heartedly, and thought his behavior solely affected those around him by the hand of God. As a result of the Holocaust, Elie Wiesel changes from a religious,…show more content…
There was even a time when he seeked to strengthen his faith, and expand his knowledge by studying the Kabbalah. His father, however, did not wish for Elie to do this. But because Elie was so eager to become closer to God, he sought out Moshie the Beadle to teach him the Kabbalistic works. "He had watched me one day as I prayed at dusk." (pg. 4) Even as a young man, Elie had much strength to pray faithfully to a God he believed in. But as he grew older, not by the coming of age, but by his surroundings, he began to lose faith in God. Elie even questioned His…show more content…
Ever fiber in me rebelled. Because He caused thousands of children to burn in His mass graves? Because He kept six crematoria working day and night, including Sabbath and the Holy Days? Because in His great might, He had created Auschwitz, Birkenau, Buna, and so many other factories of death?" (pg. 67) Elie had lost all faith. One event that stands out, is an event that directly makes Elie accuse God. In Auschwitz, a child is hung and made an example of, because he stole soup during an air raid of the camp. While watching the hanging, Elie heard someone behind him ask, "For God's sake, where is God?" (pg. 65) From within himself, Elie answered, "Where He is? This is where--hanging here from this gallows..." (pg.

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