“Necessity is the mother of invention”, a widely recognized quote worldwide. However, when invention is not feasible, a compromise must be made to fulfill this need. In such cases, people are pushed to their limits, deprived of their basic needs and resort to corruption as a substitute for invention. As a result, they become calloused to the suffering and pain endured by others. Elie Wiesel’s Night provides several examples of this phenomena. Three instances within the book demonstrate this: the abandonment of Rabbi Eliahou by his son, the fights among the men on the train, and Wiesel’s emotional detachment from his own father’s death.
The initial instance of corruption witnessed in Night occurs when Rabbi Eliahou’s son forsakes his father during their transfer to a different camp. Convincing himself that he cannot handle both the starvation and exhaustion while also looking after his father, Rabbi Eliahou’s son intentionally rushes forward, leaving his father behind in an attempt to rid himself of this responsibility. In contrast, Rabbi Eliahou assumes it was an unintended occurrence and persists in searching for his son.
When Rabbi Eliahou approached Elie, questioning if Elie was aware of his son’s whereabouts, Elie had a horrifying thought: he suspected that his own son wished to rid himself of his father. It seemed that the son perceived his father’s weakening condition and believed that separating himself from him would alleviate the burden and increase his chances of survival. This realization demonstrates that the boy was unable to bear the immense pressure and became so desperate that he sacrificed his values and attachments in order to stay alive. However, as the story progresses, even more disturbing and unethical instances of corruption are described.
In Wiesel’s book, another instance demonstrating such corruption occurs during the second train journey towards Buchenwald towards the end of the narrative. At one of the stops, an SS officer ripped off a portion of his bread and flung it into the carriage. This caused chaos as the men frantically fought amongst themselves for a solitary crumb.
Elie Wiesel recounts a distressing scenario in which individuals exhibit indifference towards each other’s suffering and survival. This absence of compassion is epitomized by the altercation between a father and son over a piece of bread. As the father is unexpectedly assaulted by an unidentified figure, he vocalizes his agony and implores his son to identify him. In a state of despair, the father even offers some bread to his son while urging him to cease causing harm and reminding him of their familial bond. This heart-wrenching moment exemplifies how desperation can lead to dehumanization. Nevertheless, Wiesel does not merely observe these occurrences; he actively participates in the narrative.
The concluding act of depravity in Night occurs at the conclusion of the book when Wiesel’s father perishes. While at Buchenwald, Wiesel’s father falls ill with dysentery. On a particular day, Wiesel’s father requests water from his son, provoking the rage of an SS officer who proceeds to strike him with his truncheon. This results in a mortal injury for Wiesel’s father, who is subsequently transported to the furnaces the following morning.
Despite being aware of his father’s passing, Wiesel did not experience any sorrow. In his autobiography, he reflects on this lack of tears, stating, “I did not weep, and it pained me that I could not weep” (106). Surprisingly, Wiesel even found relief in his father’s death, expressing, “And, deep within me, buried within my weakened conscience, if I had been able to search for it, I might have found something akin to – finally free!” This distressing statement underscores the harsh reality that indifference can be a result of extreme physical circumstances.
Wiesel made a statement after his father’s death, expressing that there were no prayers or candles lit at his grave. This statement reflected the corruption, indifference, and callousness that emerged from desperate situations. The scenes in Night, specifically with the Rabbi’s son on the snowfield, Meir Catz on the train, and Wiesel during his father’s death confirm this. It highlights how necessity can either give rise to invention or indifference.
