Pity In Elie Wiesel's Night

The Role of Pity Throught The Great Divorce and Night pity plays a key role in characters interactions, and portrays the author's worldview of pity. Both Christianity and Judaism believe taking pity and showing empathy to someone is important, and both books reflect this. In Night by Elie Wiesel many events occur that invoke a sense of pity, throughout several interactions in the book can be drawn from both the characters and the reader. Seen through the treatment of the prisoners by the S.S., the guards, and even by fellow prisoners, an acute lack of pity and empathy develops as an obvious flaw. In some ways similar to The Great Divorce written by C.S. Lewis, pity becomes a generally a good thing when associated with empathy, but also can …show more content…
In this encounter, Sarah Smith reprimands the Tragedian and the Dwarf for using people's pity as a way to exploit them. Sarah states that “Pity was meant to be a spur that drives joy to help misery” (Lewis 131) this shows that pity, created by God, drives us to help others and to be empathetic to their problems. Thus, according to Lewis, pity is powerful when properly used and felt. Yet, he shows an important problem, “It can be used as a kind of blackmailing. Those who choose misery can hold joy up to ransom, by pity.” (Lewis 131) This quote shows how people would use others pity against them, manipulating them into doing what they want. The narrator later asks his guide why the solid hosts should not be affected too severely by their ghostly counterparts’ misery, he responds by saying that if the ghosts manipulate the heavenly being through pity, than Hell would have the final veto power. (Lewis) These examples show how The Great Divorce views both the benefits and problems of pity in the …show more content…
Throughout the book there are few instances where Elie witness pity, yet they serve an important role. One example occurs when he is told by a surviving prisoner to lie about his age so that he will pass selection, another outstanding example being when the french girl helps Elie after he is beaten. Unfortunately these events are outliers in Night and the majority show a lack of pity. One example of a lack of pity that the author points out is when the Kaop beats his father “What's more, if I felt anger at that moment, it was not directed at the Kapo but my father. Why couldn’t he have avoid Idek’s wrath? That is what life in the concentration camp had made of me” (Wiesel 54) This shows how the concentration camp has drained pity and empathy out of the prisoners to such a vast extent. Wiesel often lament this lack of pity throughout the novel and is quick to point out time where he struggled with such a problem, especially in circumstances relating to his father. (Wiesel) Although pity is viewed as positive sentiment in Night Wiesel’s focus on the problems arising from a lack of pity is the defining feature in his

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