Father-Son

On three occasions, Elie mentions sons mistreating fathers: in his brief discussion of the pipel who abused his father, his conclusion about the motives of Rabbi Eliahou’s son, and his narration of the fight for food that he witnesses on the train to Buchenwald, in which a son beats his father to death. All of these moments of cruelty are provoked by the conditions the prisoners are forced to endure. In order to save themselves, these sons sacrifice their fathers. Elie depends on his father for support, and his love for his father allows him to endure. During the long run to Gleiwitz, he says, “My father’s presence was the only thing that stopped me. He was running out of breath, out of strength, desperate. I had no right to let myself die. What would he do without me? I was his sole support.” (Wiesel 86) Their relationship demonstrates that Elie’s love is stronger than thoughts of survival.