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Essay / Similarities between The Protagonists of the Night by Elie Wiesel and The Key of Sarah by Tatiana De Rosnay
Table of contentsPerseveranceLoss of innocenceGuilt for those close to themIn The Night and The Key of Sarah, the protagonists undergo similar transformations as they lose hope, being stripped of their innocence and the guilt of their loved ones. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayPerseveranceEliezer's hope and optimism erode in the face of the difficulties he encounters at the camp. Eliezer states that his motivation to keep moving forward instead of just laying down and dying is his father and the belief that they can both survive. However, his hopes for his father's survival. Eliezer and his father try to maintain hope that Eliezer's mother and sister are still alive and in a camp. This small possibility gives them the motivation to continue. Sarah's motivation to find out what happened to her brother drives her to escape the camp; however, the discovery of his death crushes her as she hoped he was still alive. Loss of Innocence Through Eliezer's experience in the concentration camps, he is exposed to unspeakable horrors and as a result, his innocence and faith in God are taken away from him. When Eliezer arrives at the camp, he sees people being shot because they are too weak or unable to work. The German soldiers treat him and his people like animals, constantly insulting and beating them. He wonders why God would allow such a thing to happen. During the first night at camp, Eliezer changes forever and cannot forget the images of the dead children turned to ashes and how silent he is. This further erodes his relationship with God. The block leader tells him that he only has to worry about himself because there are no fathers, sons and friends in the camp. When his father finally succumbs to dysentery, Eliezer does not cry but feels free from constant worry and anxiety regarding his father's fate. Sarah's journey through the concentration camp, her eventual escape, and the discovery of her brother's fate cause her to lose her innocence. Her innocence is questioned in the stage where she witnesses death and misery. She also realizes that the only reason her family is treated so poorly is because they are Jewish. Sarah is taken from her parents when they arrive at the camp and is placed with the other children. During her stay in the camp, she begins to behave more like an adult, she becomes cold, filled with hatred because she does not understand why the Germans treated her so badly. The complete loss of innocence occurs when she finds her brother dead in the closet, as he is the only family she has left and the image of his body is ingrained in her head. She no longer smiles and is no longer the same person. She is nothing more than a shell of her former self. Guilt towards their loved ones During his journey, Eliezer feels immense guilt over his inaction towards his father and his changing outlook on life. Eliezer's father is constantly beaten by the guards and by his fellow Jews, but Eliezer does nothing to stop them because he does not want to be beaten as well. His inaction makes him realize that the world is a cruel and cold place where sons turn against their fathers to preserve themselves. When Eliezer gives his father his rations, he realizes that he does so reluctantly and is ashamed of being so cold. Eliezer considers abandoning his father to ensure his survival but is immediately ashamed and guilty of his thoughts. This makes him realize that he is no longer the person he was before entering the camp...