Question
Eliezer lies about his age and occupation during the selection process. Why does he make this choice, and how does it reflect the advice he receives from the prisoner? Support your answer with evidence from the chapter.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
In "Night" by Elie Wiesel, Eliezer lies about his age and occupation during the selection process as a desperate attempt to survive. When he is asked his age, he lies, claiming to be 18 instead of his actual age of 15. He also claims to be a farmer instead of a student, which aligns more with a skill seen as valuable in the concentration camps.
Eliezer's decision to lie is heavily influenced by the advice he receives from another prisoner, who instructs him to present himself as older and more useful. This reflects the grim reality of the selection process, where being perceived as young and unskilled could lead to immediate death. By following this advice, Eliezer embodies the instinctual drive for survival that many prisoners had to adopt; he understands that honesty in such dire circumstances could cost him his life.
For example, when Eliezer's father whispers words of encouragement to him, it showcases the significant pressure he feels to prove himself and stay alive. The discussion around age demonstrates the brutal nature of the selections, where the mere difference of a few years could mean the difference between life and death. This act of deception is not only a strategy for survival but also highlights the loss of identity and innocence caused by the horrific circumstances faced by the prisoners.
Ultimately, Eliezer’s choice to lie about his age and occupation is a reflection of the survival instinct that he and others must embrace in the face of unimaginable horror, encapsulating the broader themes of desperation, identity, and the struggle for life that permeate Wiesel’s narrative.
Eliezer's decision to lie is heavily influenced by the advice he receives from another prisoner, who instructs him to present himself as older and more useful. This reflects the grim reality of the selection process, where being perceived as young and unskilled could lead to immediate death. By following this advice, Eliezer embodies the instinctual drive for survival that many prisoners had to adopt; he understands that honesty in such dire circumstances could cost him his life.
For example, when Eliezer's father whispers words of encouragement to him, it showcases the significant pressure he feels to prove himself and stay alive. The discussion around age demonstrates the brutal nature of the selections, where the mere difference of a few years could mean the difference between life and death. This act of deception is not only a strategy for survival but also highlights the loss of identity and innocence caused by the horrific circumstances faced by the prisoners.
Ultimately, Eliezer’s choice to lie about his age and occupation is a reflection of the survival instinct that he and others must embrace in the face of unimaginable horror, encapsulating the broader themes of desperation, identity, and the struggle for life that permeate Wiesel’s narrative.