Relationship between Eliezer and His Father - Book Report/Review Example

Initially, the role of a protector was played by the protagonist’s father, who was the mentor of their entire community. Later on, when they were in concentration camps their roles were swapped. The father during the concentration camp is shown as meek and dependent on his son. The father, who is most powerful for Elie, then became vulnerable. Initially, he protects his father by deterring attackers and finding food for his father. When survival is at stake, Elie starts feeling that his father is a major obstacle to his survival. The entire novel is about the real side of human relationships, which is all the time cannot be emotional but at a certain level, becomes practical and harsh.

In the initial stage, Elie’s father is like a hero to Elie and their relationship is stable. They are not close to each other. Initially, the father was an idol a powerful figure for Eliezer. At the same time, his father is shown as an aloof person from his family. He was the mentor of the whole community but according to Eliezer, he could not play the same role as his family member. “There was never any display of emotion, even at home. He was more concerned with others than with his own family” (Wiesel, 2). Elie’s father was Elie’s protector. He relies completely on his father for support and comfort. “I had one thought – not to lose him. Not to left be alone” (Weisel, 27). The circumstances start changing at Auschwitz when his father needs his help and protection. Elie states, “What would he do without me? I was his only support” (Wiesel, 82). As his protector, Elie tries to keep his father from being chosen by the Nazis. But when the situation becomes worst, as a law of nature the person tries to save his life first, and then comes the loved one. When it was the question Elie’s own life when was at risk, he decides to let his father die for the sake of his survival and abandoned him to die. “everyman has to fight for himself and not think of anyone else. Even of his father” (Wiesel, 121 – 122). As stated by Hegel, “History is the slaughter bench at which the happiness of peoples, the wisdom of states, and the virtue of individuals have been sacrificed” (Davis Stephen 6). Virtues and moralities are possible when individual life is in a secure and comfortable zone but it is very difficult to carry the burden of morality when there is a question of survival. For Eile, his father then was a burden from he wanted to get rid of. “Don’t let me find him! If only I could get rid of this dead weight, so that I could use all my strength to struggle for my survival, and only worry about myself” (Wiesel, 101).

There is a very faint line that exists between rationalism or practicalism and selfishness. The novel ends with a very apt phrase “Survival of the fittest.” While fighting against all adversaries, man first has to think about himself. The old beliefs and morals shatter in the changing mode of circumstances. The novel depicts the disillusionment of relationships. One more thing I appealed to in the novel is that when the belief in God shatters, man remains emotionless. He denies his moral responsibilities.