Politics of Moral Leadership - Book Report/Review Example

Politics Of Moral Leadership Night is a breathtaking novel about the holocaust. The writer who gives the tale of his life through the inhuman ordeal doubles up as the narrator. From the novel, it is open that the holocaust was one brutal situation for the Jews. During this time as the narrator details, there was total inconsideration for human life. The Nazis acted out of humanity to the Jews. Luckily, the narrator survived even though in saddest of situations, to tell his story about the trials and tribulations during the holocaust. This paper seeks to discuss the book in totality through giving opinions about how the writer captured different perspectives in the novel. The story can be described as a horrible tale of inhuman treatment and murder. Choice and chance are two important circumstances that shaped Eliezer survival during the holocaust (Chmiel, 2006). It was a time of frustration and devastation and it was only through these that Ellie managed to survive. To begin with, Ellie together with the rest of the family were Jews at a time when Nazis had declared war on all Jews. To survive at a situation like this, only choice and chance were the two most wished-for options. Eleazar, the narrator was put on many bad situations that any human being would never want to be in. It is in this respect that the writer of the novel exhausts all the situations that only choice or chance allowed him a chance to see another day. Interestingly, weasel makes a distinct line between making choices and morals. Even in the circumstances of extremity, as he details, man still has their choice to make a moral decision. In many of the instances across the story, Eliezer was caught up in toughest of situations. For his survival, he had to make wise choices even when it would result to bad happenings. Weasel maintains that it is up to man himself to determine his own fate. For instance in the story, Elli narrates how some Jews had to fight and even go to extents of killing themselves just for bread. To the narrator he feels that this was rather out of the way and it was not worth the actions. This extends to Wiesel’s thoughts who as he documents the story, shares similar opinions to Eliezer. In many instances, Eliezer was caught up in a difficult situation. After the family separates, Eliezer remains with his father. Choice is evident at this situation since, he has to decide if he would stay with his father to the end. Unfortunately, the circumstances are not conducive to have his father along and, therefore, make a choice to remain steadfast in the family ties with his father. At the concentration camps, there is dire devastation but Eliezer makes the choice to always be with his father. He battles with starvation and inhumane conditions. There are also instances where Eliezer’s battles with his own feelings and faith in God. Choice remains a constant in Eliezer’s life. This also reflects in Wiesel’s thoughts whereby man always the opportunity to choose right from wrong even in times of despair. In the novel, chance also manifest in different situations in Eliezer’s life through the holocaust. Chance plays a role in terms of luck. The story details a set of coincidences for the narrator. Chance, therefore, plays a fundamental role in surviving the holocaust. In Buna, Eliezer meets a woman who offers her accommodation. She accommodates in terms of comfort. This is one of the many situations that chance played a role. On his arrival to Birkhenau, he meets another man who advises him to lie about his age. This helps him to survive through when the soldiers are selecting able and old enough men for labor. In most of the selections, Eliezer survives. His small size is also helps him not to be sent into the gas chambers even though many others are healthier than he is. Chance is also present in regards to Eliezer’s small size, in that he does not fall due to starvation and cold in the wildest of situations (Sternlicht, 2003). Although, at the end, his father succumbs to the life, Eliezer had a chance to spend the last moments with his father. Clearly, Wiesel believes that it is up to an individual’s choice to make a moral decision. Even when they do not have a chance, it is almost unimaginable for someone to act out of their morality. This is evident across the memoir that Wiesel details. Having a conscious mind is important since some acts by fellow human beings can be brutal and uncaring. Wiesel, therefore, means that even in tough situations it every man has an opportunity to choose right from wrong and are the determiners of their own fate. Even in situations of dire suffering, Eliezers had to strive on without his hopes of staying alive. Although in some situations Eliezers almost completely loses his trust in God, he still has some wish that one day the same God would deliver him from the suffering. Even in extreme situations like the holocaust, definitely every individual has their opportunity and control over their life. Personally, I agree with Wiesel through the whole documentation about the holocaust. This was one of the most terrible events to humankind. All the Jews, gypsies, mentally handicapped and the homosexuals were massacred. The few individuals who got liberated lived to tell the tale. The SS army and the Nazis led by Hitler carried out this inhuman treatment to fellow humankind (Horowitz, 2006). There was ruthless maltreatment of men, women and children with no regard for human life. For Wiesel himself, he went through a life of terror at the concentration camps. These were areas all the Jews were put up and tortured. In the revelation, Wiesel lost his family members when they were separated and never got to meet other members of the family. During the holocaust, Wiesel also lost his faith in God. Even after the Jews got liberated, Wiesel’s father stood no chance and died of dysentery. It is quite a trying time for any human being to witness all these at one go. It takes a different type like Wiesel to go through the whole ordeal. At the death camps of Auschwitz, Wiesel totally loses his faith in God. "My eyes had opened and I was alone, terribly alone in a world without God, without man. Without love or mercy. I was nothing but ashes now, but I felt myself to be stronger than this Almighty to whom my life had been bound for so long" (Wiesel, 2011, 68). Wiesel continues to criticize God, "But look at these men whom you have betrayed, what do they do? They pray before you! They praise your name!"(Wiesel, 2011, 68). Wiesel cannot seem to find his feel when he notices some Jews still praising God. At the tender age, he witnesses so much suffering and evil and it is almost impossible for him to stay sane. Wiesel also loses his innocence and has no regards for the way the Jews have been treated. Never shall I forget these moments that murdered my god and my soul and turned my dreams to ashes. Never shall I forget these things; even was I condemned to live as long as God himself. Never" (Wiesel, 2011, 34). Summarily, Wiesel documents his life and times during the holocaust. He gives proper details about all the circumstances, but he is careful enough not to delve deep into the graphic and obscene situations. Chance and choice are two most important factors that helped in the narrator’s survival during the holocaust. Wiesel is lucky enough in many situations at the concentration camps. He also makes critical choices and stays hopeful throughout his endeavors. Though there is so much evil and lack of humanity at the camps, Jews are liberated. Wiesel, however, makes an important note across his revelation that, everyone has control over his or her lives even in times of dire despair. It is in this respect that anyone would agree with Wiesel about the inhumanity in the holocaust. Reference Chmiel, M. (2001). Elie Wiesel and the politics of moral leadership. Philadelphia: Temple University Press. Horowitz, R. (2006). Elie Wiesel and the art of storytelling. Jefferson, N.C: McFarland & Co. Sternlicht, S. (2003). Student companion to Elie Wiesel. Westport, Conn. [u.a.: Greenwood Press. Wiesel, E., & Wiesel, M. (2011). Night. Read More