Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Destiny Post 3
Dear Readers
As I reach the end of the novel I am at loss for words. Who am I to have the right to talk about such horrific events, without ever really witnessing it or even living it."Pressed tightly againest one another, in an effort to resist the cold, our heads heavy and empty, our brainwashing whirlwind of decaying memories. Our minds numb with indifference. Here or elsewhere, what did it matter? Die today or tomorrow, or later?" (Wiesel, 98) The men in this story had been through so much it was indifferent to them what happened or if they died now. Most now feared nothing, for they had lost so much, and so many things of importance they no longer have anything to fear. "We were masters of nature, the masters of the world. We had transcended everything death, fatigue, our natural needs. We were stronger than cold and hunger, stronger than guns and the desire to die." (Weisel, 87) We as humans have proved ourselves time and time again unfit to past the challenge of whether to be innately good, or entirely evil turning to our primitive state in nature. Whether its looking for a scapegoat to blame the worlds problems on, or fighting for your own survival, we turn to our evil and most negative side in nature. "Beast of prey unleashed, animal hats in their eyes an extraordinary vitality possessed them sharpening their teeth and nails."
Upon reading Elie Weisel's Night I am forced to think, how do I live my life? Do I cherish every moment thanking God for allowing me to live? Or do I take advantage as each day passes? As I learned from Weisel not only should you live each day like your last but, cherish what and who you have to share your life with. "A terrible thought crossed my mind: what if he had wanted to be rid of his father. He had felt his father growing weaker and believing the end was near, had thought by this seperation to free himself of a burden that could diminish his own chance of survival...and in spite of myself, a prayer formed inside me, a prayer to a God in whom I no longer believed. Oh God, master of the universe, give me strength never to do what Rabbi Eliahu's son has done." (Weisel, 91)
In even the most perfect world, we cannot force ourselves to change who we truely are, whomever you are? The question is who do you want to be?
Sincerely,
Destiny Welshman
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Dear Destiny,
ReplyDeleteYour reflection certainly made me think. As I read I did wonder what had changed in Elie to have the thought, “If only I didn’t find him!”(106). It made me question of the primitive nature that was mentioned. Certainly, every human does have a dark side; there are longings in one’s mind that we cannot control. There is no complete way to take out any dark desires. However this brings upon the debate over nature versus nurture. Are humans generally evil or is wicked behavior brought forth by the environment? It is my firm belief that it is certainly brought upon by one’s environment. We witness the transformation of Elie in his horrific journey. On the train to the final destination he begged that “gravediggers” not throw his father’s body out, but yet nearing the end as his father grew ill Elie almost saw him as a burden. With Elie’s surroundings, it was constantly life or death; therefore he definitely needed to take care of himself. The majority of humans embody the imperfection of putting themselves before others, and that is what Elie had done in regards to his ailing father. It is evident though that Elie’s environment changed who he had become mentally and physically.
Sincerely,
Keriden Harrington