Book Report of Night by Elie Wiesel
Tania Ardiani and Ayu Ida Savitri, S.S, M.Hum.
English Department, Faculty of Humanity, Diponegoro University, Semarang 50275
Abstrak
Penulisan tugas akhir “Bedah Buku Night karya Elie Wiesel” bertujuan untuk mengungkap simbol yang banyak digunakan oleh pengarang yang bertujuan untuk mewakili perasaan yang ingin disampaikan oleh pengarang yang tidak dijabarkan. Selain itu, tugas akhir ini juga menilai kelebihan dan kekurangan dari novel Night. Penulis memutuskan untuk membedah novel Night karena sebagai karya sastra novel ini merupakan sebuah karya sastra yang mengandung unsur sejarah sehingga bisa berperan ganda sebagai penyegar kalbu dan sumber wawasan. Penulis menggunakan metode membaca cermat untuk menemukan simbol, kelebihan dan kekurangan dari novel ini. Setelah dianalisis ditemukan bahwa ada beberapa simbol, yang sebagian merupakan simbol di agama Yahudi, yang digunakan untuk lebih menekankan penderitaan dari para korban Holocaust yang segala hak mereka telah dirampas oleh Nazi. Novel ini mempunyai kelebihan dalam temanya yaitu mempunyai tema tentang kejadian yang besar dan terkenal sehingga bisa dijadikan sebagai salah satu referensi kesejarahan yang didukung dengan penggunaan bahasa denotatif yang tidak ambigu. Kedekatan batin antara Eliezer dan ayahnya yang berkembang di kamp konsentrasi juga merupakan nilai lebih dari novel ini. Namun, hal yang menyulitkan dalam mendalami novel ini adalah beberapa istilah agama Yahudi dan bahasa Jerman sehingga diperlukan referensi lain untuk memahaminya. Dari segi penokohan, penulis menganggap bahwa tokoh Eliezer mempunyai karakter yang jauh lebih dewasa dan tidak sesuai dengan umurnya yang sebenarnya yaitu 15 tahun.
Kata kunci: Holocaust, Kamp Konsentrasi, Nazi, Yahudi
1. Introduction caused by war itself. War takes not War is one effective way to only the soldiers’ souls but also the “reduce” the population of people in souls of innocence or civilian. the world. The number of people World War II that happened in decreases because of the suffering 1939-1945 was also caused a lot of people lost their soul and life. The most In composing this project, the popular event was Holocaust or the writer determines to discuss two genocide of European Jews by Nazi problems related to the topic and to be German, led by Adolf Hitler. The revealed in later discussion, among victims were Jews and non Jews. Nazi them are: grouped them as German and non- 2.1 To reveal the symbols German, in Eastern and Center Europe. and allusions used in Night, in order to The chosen people were sent to the ease the reader to grab deeper concentration camps to be killed understanding of the messages that are directly or they had to be slaves until conveyed by the author. dying before they really died. 2.2 To give the review of One of the survived victims in Night, those are the strength, weakness, this catastrophe that succeeded to live and personal opinion of the writer. until the war ended is Elie Wiesel. He cures his trauma and endurs his fear to 3. Biography of The tell what happened when he was Author imprisoned in concentration camps, Elie Wiesel was born in the town Auschwitz and Birkenau, and wrote it of Sighet in Transylvania. He was still a in a memorial novel Night. teenager when he was taken from his Night is a story of a virtuous home to the Auschwitz concentration Jews teenager that has a problem with camp and take to Buchenwald. His his relation with God because of the memoirs of that experience the torture after he is sent to concentration unforgettably recorded in Night, which camps for being a Jew. This book became a worldwide bestseller. shows to the world that Holocaust After the war, Wiesel learned seizes everything; family, friends, that his mother and younger sister had right, live, and faith. Beside all died in the gas chambers, but that his controversy of Holocaust that lasted two older sisters had survived. Elie lived until this era, this book also reveals the in a French orphanage for a few years evidence that the story of “sacred” and in 1948 began to study literature, Holocaust is not only a myth. The story philosophy, and psychology at the from the point of view of a fifteen year Sorbonne in Paris. He is the author of old teenager is told honestly and twenty one books. Wiesel's other novels unexaggeratedly. The writing include The Gates of the Forest, The technique used makes a balanced feel Oath, The Testament, and The Fifth Son. to the readers. It can grab readers’ He has written plays, including Zalmen, sympathy but does not make them too or The Madness of God and The Trial of pitied of it. The writer reviews this God, and his essays and short stories are book to improve the skill in literature collected in the volumes Legends of Our project. The writer hopes that this Time, One Generation After, and A Jew review can help the reader to get more Today. In addition, he has written understanding about the messages of collections of Hasidic tales and Biblical this book. stories, and the English translation of his memoirs was published in 1995 as All 2. Objective Rivers Run to the Sea. Wiesel continues to write in French, but his wife Marion, who he married in 1969 and who also Along the year of 1943, the survived the concentration camps, situation was normal. In 1944 after collaborates with him his books' English Fascist party won the election, the translations. Wiesel's books on the commando of deportation was issued. Holocaust have helped win him an Jews had to wear the yellow star. Two international reputation. ghettos were started to set up in the Wiesel has lectured at colleges town. The people thought that ghettos around the country and has been Andrew were the save place at least until the Mellon Professor of Humanities at war ended. When the day of the Boston University since 1976. In 1978 deportation came, they marched to the he was appointed Chairman of the station and were brought with cattle United States Holocaust Memorial cars 80 people in each car. Council by President Jimmy Carter, and In Eliezer’s train there was in 1985 he was awarded the Madam Schachter who always Congressional Gold Medal of screamed that she saw fire, a nerve- Achievement by President Ronald racking waiting for departing to the Reagan. In 1986 Wiesel received the unknown destination. After a few days, Nobel Prize for Peace. Currently, Elie they arrived at Birkenau, the reception Wiesel lives in New York City with his center of Auschwitz, and they really wife and son Elisha. smelled burnt flesh from the furnace. Right after they arrived in the concentration camp, there was a 4. Summary command from the Schutzstaffel (SS) Moshe the Beadle was an that man should go to the left and orphan that was loved by the people women to the right. The notorious Dr. who worked in Hasidic synagogue in Mangele examined the people. Those Sighet, Transylvania (now becomes a that were considered weak would be part of Romania) where Eliezer and his killed. At this time Elizer was still family and other Jews lived. His father together with his father. At the same was a man who did not have a close time he started to accuse God that he relationship with his family but he was was not with the people who believed very respected by the Jews in their in His existence. neighborhood. Eliezer had two older The barrack was like hell. It sisters, Hilda and Bea, and a younger was full of madness, scream and sister, Tzipora. brutishness. The officers made them One day, all Jews foreigners stripped. At this time self-defense were deported by cattle car by instinct and pride have lost from their Hungarian police, and Moshe was soul. The selected people were sent to included in that group. A few months work in the furnace and the rest, later, Moshe went back to town and including Eliezer and his father, is told the story about his suffer that moved to the main camp Auschwitz. people had to dig their own graves and The officers gave them clothes, black sacrifice their own necks. He also coffee, tick soup, and bread to eat. warned the people in Sighet to escape. Afternoon roll call gave them a number Yet they did not believe him and even for each person, Elizer is A-7713. After said that he was insane. three weeks in Auschwitz they moved They were brought to to Buna. Buchenwald with the rattle without Some people said that Buna roof. Eliezer’s father got dysentery, was the “best” concentration camp. once he thought that he would let him After three days the doctor came to die so he would lost this burden but as examine but actually he only came to soon as he regretted it. Three days later look for golden teeth. Eliezer has a he could not find his father on his bed. golden tooth, and he could not save it Maybe he still breathed when he was any longer after some postponements. brought to crematory. Eliezer regretted Eliezer worked in the warehouse next since the last word his father said was to a French girl that is told they would his name, and he ignored it. After that, meet some years later in Paris. On there was no story about Eliezer since Sunday Buna was stricken, the only reason of his life was his Eliezerhoped that Buna was totally father. Eliezer was sent to children ruined. A week later a black gallows block, and in April the American give more frightening experience but at soldier won the battle over SS and least it felt like freedom for those who released all prisoners. dead there. In the end of the year, the Jew 5. Review should have fasting, but some of them 5.1 Symbols did not do it as a rebellion. The first In “Night”, Elie Wiesel as the selection came, Eliezer’s father did not author uses several symbols as well make it and bequeathed a spoon and a allusions to deliver the intended knife, but fortunately he passed the meaning which considered more next selection. In the winter, they were accurate than common words. Those given thicker stripped pajamas, and it symbols, which were often mentioned, made a new mockery for the SS “Now, have important role in Night. Those you’ll really getting a taste of the symbols are Night, Fire and Prisoner’s camp!”.Eliezer had swollen foot and Number. had to have an operation. In his recovery time, the Red Army was Night getting closer, and all prisoners had to The word “night” is mostly used be evacuated to the depth of Germany. to represent something dark that can also Evacuation was started the next mean the end of the days. In Jewish day, under thick snows they had to run. doctrine, night also has a certain The SS also run beside them with the meaning. According to Rabbi Louis guns in their hands, and they would Jacobs in the encyclopedia entitled shoot the weak. On the way Eliezer “What is Jew?” , in Talmud, the met his comrade that left his weak collections of rabbinic commentary on father and he thought that he would biblical texts that form, and Torah, the never do it since he only had his father foundation for the religious laws of in this world. After this long journey Judaism, “night” means “the world of prisoners reached Gleiwitz, but a lot of error and darkness”. It is not surprising if people died. Three days in Buna Wiesel as a pious Jew uses Jewish without food and drink, then they tried symbol and allusion and even uses to eat snow. ‘night’ as the title of this novel. The author mentions some “last beautifully given from the parents for night” in the story. For example, the their children. It is reasonable if they main character Eliezer always tells about are disappointed when those beautiful the last night before the scene moves to names are changed into those numbers. the next one as another last night. He For example, Eliezer means ‘God is my even compiles all his ‘last nights’ Savior’ in Hebrew. After imprisoned in experiences in one scene when he states, the notorious concentration camp, their “The last night in Buna. Yet another last beautiful name is changed into a night. The last night at home, the last meaningless number such as A1773 night in the gettho, the last night in the train, and, now, the last night in Buna” 5.2 The Strengths of Night (Wiesel, 1960:100). The Historical Theme By gathering the whole last This novel has historical theme nights he experienced, it seems like as it talks about the struggle of a boy in Eliezer hopes that his nightmare will concentration camps in Holocaust era. end up soon. Deep in his heart, he Therefore, this book can be used as hopes that tomorrow will be better as guidance for the readers to study about the sun will rise brightly and his old history, especially Holocaust and life will come back to him. He never World War as two of the greatest stops to believe that his nightmare will human tragedy in the world. This novel end soon, even when he finds that the is also beneficial for students who next day is worst than his last day. study literature to study the deeper meaning of a literary works since the Fire author gives some clues that should be The word “fire” appears first analyzed by a literary approach. In when Madam Schachter screams like literature, this novel can be explored by crazy in the carriage that bring them to using Historical Approach because it Buna. In Talmud, fire is called “aish” contains social document. which has a mystical and spiritual negative meaning that is, “a chaotic The Use of Denotative Words and intimidating natural power”. In Another strength of this novel is some religions, fire is decrypted to hell in the diction or the word choice. as people often say, “If you do bad Wiesel writes “Night” as a memoir. He things, you will be burnt in hell”. The uses Eliezer as the main character and power mentioned in “Night” is not the the first person narrator. His double power of nature as it refers to the roles makes the readers catch the whole power of Hitler that will send them to messages of the story easily. As a man one of greatest tragedy in humankind who produced literature works, Wiesel history. does not make his writing complicated by employing connotative words. He Prisonner’s Numbers delivers his purpose by telling about an In Buna, all prisoners are given unpleasant experience of how his a number to replace their name. It character tries to be tough without shows that their right is really being begging people to pity on him. seized even for their right of their own names. In general, a name is Father and Son Relationship in this story he is strong enough when In the novel, the relationship he still lives free and fearless with his between Eliezer and his father is family and neighborhood in his growing closer so that they become hometown, Sighet. He does not even inseparable. The strong bound between show his fear when the Jews started to Elizer and his father is an interesting be evacuated from their environment. It topic since it gives a moral value of a might happen as the effect of studying father and son relationship. Both of Talmud that contains the collection of them are in the process to learn how to Rabbis’ discussion since a very young resist their hard time that they never age that makes a boy has a man’s imagine before as Eliezer’s father is thought. still doing his role as a guidance and protector of his son. This relationship 5.4 Personal Opinion influences Elizer’s mental development The controversy about the fact because, without his father, he would of the real number of murdered Jews in be as cruel as German people since his the tragedy of Holocaust is still desire to save the only remaining interesting to be debated even though family member makes him not to act The World War II that marked this wild and greedy like other prisoners. tragedy has ended in 1945. While reading this book we can set aside this 5.3 The Weakness of Night case so that this book will drive our Germany and Jewish Terms attention to the suffered victims. For For non-Jewish and non- the common readers who do not learn Germany people, it is rather hard to Jewish or Germany, the Germany and translate some words in the novel. For Jewish terms might be rather hard to example, Achtung is a Germany word understand. which means ‘attention’ in English. The biggest question that comes Another example is synagogue in in common readers’ mind should be Jewish which means a house of “Why the Jews did not pretend to be worship and learning and kaddish that non Jews?”. After reading another means Jewish prayer recited in the memoir book about Holocaust from daily synagogue services and by another Holocaust victim Thomas mourners after the death of a close Buergenthal the writer found out the relative. However, in this novel those reason why Jews cannot pretend to be terms are important since it shows how non Jew is because they have a certain the people’s loyalty to God stars to physical characteristics that differ them fades away by gradually neglecting from the common Eastern European God’s commands one by one as the that is they have black wavy hair and result of their suffering in the camps. brown eyes that identified their Jewish blood (Buergenthal, 2007:32). Eliezer’s Early Maturity The interesting phase of this In this novel, Eliezer as a novel is when Eliezer’s father says, fifteen-year-old boy seems to be too “I’ve got more faith in Hitler than in mature in facing all his problems. It is anyone else. He’s the only one who’s probably more sensible if his strength kept his promises, all his promises, comes in the middle of the story. But, to the Jewish people.”(Wiesel, 1960:97). This phase touches the analyzed in this paper. First, there are writer’s deepest heart since it shows several Germany and Jewish words that how great Hitler’s will is to reach his are not familiar for readers that do not dreams that makes the Jews think learn about Germany and Hebrew. that he is the real ‘death angle’ as Second, Eliezer looks more mature when he releases a command to kill than his actual age. Jews, they will die in time. It shows There are a lot of books written that in the hard time to save his life by the ex-prisoner of Nazi, but this he does not even have time to think novel is different since it is not only about God’s purpose that God puts about physical and mental struggle of people in the hard time is to make the victim but also their spiritual they think about His presence. struggle as a prisoner that asks for Night is the first memoir God’s existence when Nazi tried to about Holocaust that the writer read. annihilate Jews. The surprising thing This book makes the writer more about “Night” is the fact that Eliezer curious about the Holocaust and look does not have such a passion to take for other stories about the victims of revenge after he had released from Holocaust. Among those stories the those concentration camps. The author writer thinks that Night is the one who writes this novel some years after that appropriate to be reviewed for he released from the notorious this paper. The book shows the concentration camps, Birkenau, character development of a child that Auschwitz and Buna, shows his mental is being force to be a premature maturity by not showing his exploding adult. This book also teaches about anger and writes this book wisely. the important of family members’ support for their living. It is not only 7. Bibliography telling about personal experience but Buergenthal, Thomas. A Lucky Child. this book also tells about the Trans. Shandy Than. Jakarta: historical event that is written Gramedia. 2001. chronologically. Elie Wiesel Biography. Nobleprize.org. 23 May 2012. 6. Conclusion