The book Night by Elie Wiesel reveals the theme of prejudice and inhumanity experienced by the Jews at the hands of the S.S. officers. The physical conditions of the camp Buna and the verbal and psychological abuse inflicted upon the Jews are described in detail. Examples of this abuse include the S.S. officers yelling insults such as “Faster, you swine, you filthy sons of bitches” (81). This book taught me about the harsh reality faced by the Jews during this time.
Camp Buna, the second concentration camp Elie and his father were sent to, initially appeared to be a work camp. However, upon their arrival at the gate, it was evident that the camp was indeed a work camp as it appeared empty and lifeless. The prisoners were divided into groups and assigned to different units. Juliek, a fellow worker, informed Elie about the type of work they would be doing. According to Juliek, they worked in a warehouse for electrical equipment nearby, which was not overly laborious or hazardous. However, there were times when Idek, the Kapo, would have episodes of madness, and it was advisable to steer clear of him (47).
Elie was fortunate that he didn’t have to perform the unpleasant tasks, but one day he became curious upon hearing a noise. He followed the noise to his Kapo’s room and as he peered inside, he saw a partially clothed girl. Idek noticed Elie and warned him that he would soon face consequences for leaving his work. Idek told Elie to return to his own place. Later that day, before work was over, there was a roll call and Idek seized the opportunity to punish Elie, hitting him twenty-five times with a whip. Many Jews were subjected to such physical abuse.
The S.S. Officers subjected the Jews to both physical and verbal abuse, treating them very poorly. Verbal abuse was one of the ways in which the officers mistreated the Jews. They would speak to them in a demeaning manner, using derogatory language such as “Faster, you swine, you filthy sons of bitches.” The officers constantly abused and belittled them. Even after Elie had been beaten twenty-five times, an officer approached him and called him a “bastard,” further diminishing his dignity. Throughout the book, the officers consistently verbally abused the Jews, eventually demoralizing them to the point where they felt worthless.
Psychological abuse accompanied the verbal abuse in this harrowing tale. The suffering began with the separation of families, leaving some individuals forever separated from their loved ones. One such individual, Madame Schachter, lost her sanity and constantly screamed “fire” as she was torn away from her family (22). Her repetitive cries eventually led the other Jews to tape her up, attempting to calm her down. Additionally, the horrifying sight of babies being thrown into flames at the crematory further traumatized the Jews. They were forced to witness these atrocities and endure a selection process to determine their eligibility for the concentration camp – making them question their fate: “What if I get selected?” Throughout the novel, the Jews endured relentless psychological abuse.
The book portrays various instances depicting prejudice and inhumane treatment. One example is the physical mistreatment of Jews at the Buna Concentration camp. Additionally, S.S. Officers verbally abused the Jews, further showcasing their prejudiced behavior. Moreover, the Jews endured psychological abuse throughout the Holocaust. Considering if Elie had to endure just one more year, would he survive? Assuming he does, what would he witness when he gazes into the mirror?
