Night Book Summary

Night – Memories of an Inhumane Experience 

Brief Summary:

Based on the Holocaust experiences of the author, Night throws light on the condition of Europeans after the Nazi-led Second World War. Indeed, the people were ill-treated in the Concentration camps at Buchenwald and Auschwitz. It exhibits the awful conditions of Jewish Europeans in the camps as they were not given proper food and were beaten on the slightest of mistakes. The novel “Night” was conceptualized in 1941 by Eliezer who was an orthodox Jewish teenager. By reading the novel, you will get to know the wretched plight of Jews and how Nazi Germans were cruel to them. 

Analyzing the Plight of Painful Aspects:

Character Avquaintenance:

As the novel “Night” is a memoir of painful incidents experienced by Eliezer and his father, it has a few Jewish characters who were ill-treated by the Nazis and ruthlessly killed. In fact, there was a young girl Malka who took three days to die as she was stranded. Apart from her, Tobias (Jewish Tailor) begged for his death before his sons could die. On the other hand, Moshe was shot in the leg and left to suffer in pain till he died. 

Narator’s Recital:

Set in 1941 when the Second World War occurred, “Night” opens with Elizier discussing the horrific conditions of Jews with Moshe and Beadle (Caretaker of Hasidic Shtiebel). It was a supreme house of prayer where people confessed their blunders and sought forgiveness from the Supreme Almighty. Elzier’s father was against him for discussing Kabbalah with them. In the camps, they were not given proper food and were kept in small cells. Certainly, the Jews were taken in the trucks and trains from one place to another in shabby conditions. 

During Moshe’s transfer to Poland like other captives on a cattle train in June 1941, he managed to escape. Besides this, many others were taken in trucks to different places and forced to dig the pits. The situation was such that they had to bury themselves to neck. Then, the prisoners were shot dead. However, the horrific incidents worsened when children were thrown in the air and shot as target practice. Indeed, Moshe was trying to explain the conditions to the Jews of Sighet. But, they did not pay any heed to his words. 

Lateral Conditions of Jews:

Regular transferring of prisoners continued till the Soviet Army came into the picture. After their arrival, more than 60,000 prisoners were taken on a death march by the Nazis to Gleiwitz. Further, they were taken to camps near Germany in Weimar. Everyone was living under the threat of death as the soldiers had fingers on the triggers. They had orders to shoot anyone who made the slightest mistake or was caught escaping. Indeed, the condition of the prisoners was no less than animals. They were deprived of food, water, and had to sleep in tight barracks. Their condition was so appalling that animals seemed to have a better life than Jews. 

Eliezer and his father were among the troops taken on a death march for about 64km. Certainly, they were kept in different barracks. This created a lot of trouble as Elizier was worried about his father’s deteriorating health condition. Needless to say, the condition of the Jewish prisoners started to get better when Americans liberated the Buchenwald in April 1945. Despite being liberated, Elizier had traumatic memories of the horrific incidents etched in his mind.