Wednesday, July 9, 2008
"Night"
The author makes the horrors of the Holocaust come to life. I will never get the image of babies being dumped into the fire out of my mind. How anyone can experience such evil and remain sane is beyond belief. As the survivors of the Holocaust dwindle, books such as "Night" remind us that human beings are capable of extreme atrocities against each other. It is up to the next generation to keep a vigilant watch for repetition of genocide in the world and speak out for the helpless victims.
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17 comments:
I never read NIght because it was an assigned reading by the English department. I thought that I had read enough about genocide. First this is a book that our students at all levels can and shoud read. It amazes me that anyone could have survived to tell the story. It also amazes me how the village did not heed the warning. It was late in the war when this happened. We read about people who said they had no idea of whar was happeneing and from this book I now tend to believe that It was a well kept secret. Yet, the description of the train rides and the people on the outside's behaviors makes it clear that some people did know and did nothing.
How easy it is to use hate and scapegoating to attain power. Unfortuantately, it still goes on today. You would have thought that the Holocaust would have put an end to genocide but now we call it ethnic cleansing and if there is nothing in it for us we do nothing. Mans' inhumanity toward man is still a theme that the world has not learned from. For those of you who read Stargirl on the other blog there was a person who did nothing but good and was ostracized. Why can't good win out?
Cathy P
I have so much to say regarding this book, but as I await the posting from our fearless leaders, I just can't help but to realize that I've never known true suffering, nor will I, probably, in my lifetime.
I sat on a tour bus in Washington DC last week while attending a conference and listened to people complain because we had to wait for the bus to fill up before we were able to depart for the hotel. People were yelling, complaining, lying to the driver for reasons they MAY have had to leave the convention center early. As I listened, I continued to read NIGHT thinking to myself the whole time if these people would just take time to think about real suffering, really being taken from their families and homes, really having to give up all of their valuable possessions...hum...I wonder what we could manage to accomplish if we really remembered what has happened and continues to happen throughout history?????? Waiting on a tour bus for an extra half hour may not seem so bad.
What struck me about this book was its quietness (Is that a word?). I am so used to books and movies about such subjects going straight for the emotional jugular. This book was not like that for me. I was relieved and grateful for this. I felt as though I had a convesation with Wiesel and he told me what happened and discussed with me his loss of faith and questions about the actions of others. I was taken in by the fact that this was not so much a dramatic focus on the evil in others but on people's reactions to it.
I pray that I will never know true suffering like this man has experienced. I had a similar experience as Elena. I had just moved to Chicago and was on a bus, frustarted that I had to travel on such a hot day down to the Phone Store in another neighborhood to get my phone hooked up on my first day off. Then I glanced over at a man in the seat across from me and noticed the number tattooed on his arm. The ride was not such an inconvenience after that.
I wonder what i am keeping a blind eye about in this world? And am I really doing enough about what I do recognize? I think there is a sense of complacency because none of us know what to do or feel that what we do makes a difference. We are lulled with our games and our toys and a false sense of security. I think that as well as making people aware of stories about man's inhumanity to man, we also need more hero tales. One man, people doing the right thing, can make a difference, will make a difference.
Cathy M
I have taught this novel the last two years (once to sophomores, and once to freshmen). I continue to find more and more to connect with in this novel and to bring out to my students. One of my main goals and reasons for teaching this novel is two fold: the first is due to the in-your-face style that it is written in. Wiesel holds nothing back and I think the students appreciate this. I know it was eye-opening for my freshmen this year.
Before I get to the second reason for teaching this book, Wiesel wrote two main reasons for why his book was written the way it was. He first was stunned at how the world could sit idle while all this was happening - I love using this as a teachable moment to the students. When they sit by and do nothing, they become part of the problem and help bring about evil (albeit) smaller forms of it. It truly helps the students to think through their actions. His second motive was to bring about a discussion about God's silence during all of this. He asked: "How could there be an all-powerful God, or a God at all, if all of this happened?" Truly a powerful discussion topic throughout the novel.
My second, and deeper, reason for teaching this book is that I believe it to be a hopeful read. Yes, cruelty happens. Yes, death happens. But, in the end, who comes out? Mankind. I think that this novel is a testament to man's unbreakable nature. That no matter what happens or how far we sink, we cannot, and will not, be broken.
L"What is the relationship between our stories and our identity? To what extent are we all witnesses of history and messengers to humanity?"
As we consider the essential questions, what views have we formed in regards to humanity? Daily we hear of injustices and situations that leave us considering what is the world coming to. Elie Wiesel discussed that the world has already been there we have just not been aware or allowed ourselves to acknowledge the atrocities that existed during the Holocaust. Throughout this account of his teen years, Wiesel told tales of warnings not listened to, families being separated, children abused others tortured and men trampling others to death to save themselves seem so unreal, yet these accounts are true. I find it difficult with all that was happening in this time period that people could look the other way as though nothing was happening while many others died due to their beliefs.
Even after repeated visits to the Holocaust Museum and an opportunity to meet and ask questions of a Holocaust survivor, I am unable to comprehend the horrific suffering many people experienced during this time period.
After reading Night, I thought of the poem written by Pastor Martin Niemöller.
First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.
What will happen when no one bothers takes a stand?
Having to fight daily for survival as Wiesel portrayed in Night, is our faith in humanity lost? With this question in mind, I have to continue with Wiesel's trilogy with the next two installments, Dawn and The Accident to find the answer.
I too had many emotions going through my mind as I read this book. First, I was disappointed...I know...really??? Wearing the rose colored glasses that I do, I think I was expecting more of a tale of hope, more of Wiesel's emotional story. I thought that this book definitely portrayed the events in a blunt and honest way, which I absolutely feel we all need to hear, but I wanted to know more about his emotional situation, his desires to survive. Maybe he didn't have any at that time? I know that this book is part of a trilogy, perhaps the next book is the story of hope and survival? Has anyone read it?
I think what makes this book a good one for students to read is that Wiesal is still alive and his story is connected to a real person...which makes it less of the "Oh, that happened in the past, I don't need to concern myself with that!" attitude many kids have. He is alive and on Oprah, telling his story...it is real.
Which brings me to my next thought...why aren't we, as a society, more upalled and outraged by the genocides going on right now in countries around the world? I think students, and maybe adults, consider the autrocity of the holocaust as something that Hilter and the Nazis created and it is now over. We can wash our hands and move on. I feel as if we learned nothing from that episode of history. Is it because much of the genocide happening now involves African nations?! Perhaps every teacher that teaches Night, should pair it with a story of genocide today...I don't know that students are globally aware enough to realize that there autrocities, like the houlocaust of WWII, that are happening right now in our world. As Cathy P. asked, didn't we learn from this?
I think of the poem Chris brought to our attention and it makes me feel guily. Like the people on the bus...I often whine and complain (I know hard to believe! :-) ) about insignificant things and loose site of the bigger picture. I am glad I am reading these memoirs if only to help me keep things in perspect, and to broaden my global awareness. Maybe exposing our students to more memoirs will also help raise their awareness too.
Do any of you who teach Night pair it with other memoirs? I'd be curious to know.
Just some random thoughts:
I had never read this memoir before-where have I been? It's amazing to me what a short book it is - yet speaks volumes.
Since reading this book and getting into this blog, I had to find out more (it's the librarian in me). I found an interview at http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/wie0int-3 and was amazed that he had a difficult time getting the book published and the reasons for it.
What are your views on Madame Schacter? Did Madame realize what was to come because of stories she had heard? From Moshe, from others?
Kathy J mentioned pairing this memoir with others. I remember reading ( a while back) Anne Frank Remembered by Miep Gies. Anyone read it?
Thank you for selecting this book.
Suzanne
For some reason- I am not getting email from the blog- I need to figure that out. I was once again horrified by the atrocities of the Holocaust. I have not read/revisited this in many years. This book surely takes it more than a step past "Anne Frank". When I was in high school many many trips around the sun ago- we read Anne Frank- that was it. The truth is- this happened just 7 years before I was born. I think the Diary of Anne Frank was pretty mild. Night brings the atrocity of the Holocaust right up front. There can be no question left in anyone's mind. The point that Wiesel did not want his past to become the future of our youth is certainly significant to me. Clearly this memoir makes a great statement on the nature of madness in history.
One thing that I wondered as I was reading though, and I know that genocide is not "nice"- will we ever read a "memoir" with students that is not horrific or atrocious?
I've been pondering Cheryl's thoughts- "Will we ever read a "memoir" with students that is not horrific or atrocious?" Hmmm? My first thought was that perhaps content and happy people don't write memoirs??!! But I know that's not true! I have high hopes for Three Cups of Tea.
I have to confess, I was not a memoir reader before this group and I feel the experience has been very enlightening. I have learned so much about these people, and the countries in which they live. I almost wish I was a class room teacher just to teach a unit on the memoir!
Cherly's comment started me thinking about all we could do with this genre...and how great it would be to expose students to not only the atrocities in our world, and to see the of hope and survival in these horrific stories, but also the everyday stories of hope and survival. How powerful would it be to have are students read about how other people deal with adversity or conflict, how other people deal with bad choices or situations, and how they, hopefully, persevere. What a tremendous message for high school students.
I am a HUGE fiction reader...rarely would I pick up anything non-fiction to read...but this venture has opened my eyes to a very rich reading experience. I can't wait to share these stories with our students. I will definitely add memoirs to by "book talking" repertoire.
I've been thinking about Cheryl and Kathy's questions about a memoir (or novel for that matter) that we may read which does not portray the horiffic atrocities of man and society (the Alchemist being the only one that comes to mind...and even within that there are some outrageous atrocities and evils that exist)...the truth is that human beings search for a story, situation, hardship, etc. that is worse than their own present reality. Think of the news each day: we don't report the good happenings most often; we report the terrible things in which to fear. Thus, making OUR PERSONAL lives not so tragic. We can take pity on the people who are suffering in another part of our world, country, state, county, community...it's not us.
Now, being the person who literally felt sick to her stomach while reading portions of NIGHT, I find it deplorable that many of us stand by and watch. I felt guilty as I read that I have had such and easy life. At the same time, I want to contribute to making our lives even better for our children and grandchildren and the various cultures who have suffered thus far.
This comes through education!!!! We have to continue to help kids realize (through books such as this) that by standing and cheering a friend on in a fight is a major contributing factor to violence as a whole. By helping PEOPLE realize they do have a strong voice and can make peaceful endeavors to eliminate the same atrocities that have been repeated throughout time, the answer lies.
Of all the memoirs I've read that have had an impact on me (...Caged Bird..., House on Mango Street, 1000 Little Pieces, Kaffir Boy...)the story is one of sadness and grief, but my part as the reader then becomes to take the "audacity of hope" of the story told and spread the word. Since the very first story of Gilgamesh, the role of the listener (later the reader) has been that of passing the lesson on. After all Einstein says, "Common sense is nothing more than a deposit of prejudices laid down by the mind before you reach eighteen". It's our job as humans to break through the barriers of those prejudices!!!! Wiesel hits home with that particular reality in a most uncomfortable fashion.
Okay, Folks, aren't we all saying pretty much the same thing? People can and have survived some awful,unbelievably horrific things. We are part of the problem if we are not part of the solution. Education is the key. Through literature we can educate.
I agree with John that Wiesel was "stunned" that the world stood by and watched and that God did the same. I also think he wrote this to work through the guilt he felt at his own actions. Did he ever forgive himself for not going to his dying father?
Im the July issue of Book Links, there is an interview with the author of one of this year's Newbery Honor books, Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow. She has followed this book with a fictional account of Helmuth Hubener, areal boy who tried to tell the truth when he discovered that the German people were being lied to about the Nazi's actions and was arrested. The book is called The Boy Who Dared. In her interview she says that she decided to write a fictional account because she wanted to understand what gave him his strength and courage. Has anyone read The Boy in the Strped Pajamas by John Boyle? It's told from the perspective of a nine year old boy whose father is put in charge of a concentration camp. Powerful.
Cathy M
I'm having trouble logging in and an just want to be sure I'm doing this correctly :)
Sorry, the last comment was elena. I had to use my husband's google account to fix my problem here :)
The closest thing I can think of for memoirs that turn out positive would be things like some of the autobiographies that are out there - in a way they can be considered memoirs.
I am working on getting an autobiography approved right now: Lance's Armstrong's "It's Not About The Bike" (sorry for no underlining). It's a hopeful read based on Armstrong's battle with cancer, and his struggle back to life. Yes, it deals with cancer and people coming to terms with their mortality, but it deals with it in a hopeful way.
Most memoirs though are written due to negative events being far more numerous in the lives of those around us, and we feel compelled to tell those stories - perhaps to prevent them from happening again, to rally people to a cause, or for various other reasons.
The title I suggested, however, is just one thought that came to mind when I was reading people's replies about this genre.
Have we started First They Killed My Father? If so, I'm not sure I'm connecting properly.
Cathy M
Chris is having some technical difficulties getting the starter post up for First They Killed My Father...sorry for the delay. It should be up later today.
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