CHARACTERIZATION OF CHLOMO WIESEL Jacob Devera Jacob Krieger
CHARACTERIZATION OF CHLOMO WIESEL Jacob Devera, Jacob Krieger, Ben Bogle, Megan Smith, Mark Malabuen
CHAPTER 1 -2 • “My father was a cultured, rather unsentimental man… The Jewish community in Sighet held him in the greatest esteem. ” (pg. 2) • Respected by others, does not display emotions openly
CHAPTER 1 -2 • “I’m too old to start a new life. I’m too old to start from scratch again in a country so far away…” (pg. 6) • Not comfortable with change
CHAPTER 1 -2 • “…the yellow star? Oh well, what of it? You don’t die of it. ” (pg. 9) • Looking on the bright side, optimism
CHAPTER 1 -2 • “My father wept. It was the first time I had ever seen him weep. I had never imagined that he could. ” (pg. 16) • Signs of sadness
CHAPTER 1 -2 Summary • Started out respected by others, did not openly display his feelings • Did not like change, took the risk of staying in Sighet instead of moving • Looked on the bright side, did not think much of the Holocaust • Showed signs of sadness at Birkenau
CHAPTER 3 -4 • “Humanity? Humanity is not concerned with us. Today anything is allowed. Anything is possible, even these crematories…” (pg. 30) • Comes to a realization, pessimistic
CHAPTER 3 -4 • “…How he had changed. His eyes had grown dim. I would have liked to speak to him, but I did not know what to say. ” (pg. 34) • Start of physical degradation
CHAPTER 3 -4 • “…my father was always up to his neck in the affairs of the Jewish community, and much less well versed in family matters. ” (pg. 40) • Places his religious values over the family
CHAPTER 3 -4 • “…any anger I felt at that moment was directed, not against the Kapo, but against my father. I was angry with him, for not knowing how to avoid Idek’s outbreak. ” (pg. 52) • Less focused, lowered concentration
CHAPTER 3 -4 • “When I spoke to my father about it, he turned pale, was silent a long while, and then said: ‘No son, you mustn’t do it. ’ ‘He’ll take it out on us. ’ ‘He won’t dare. ’” (pg. 52 -53) • Looks out for his son
CHAPTER 3 -4 • “My father had never done military service, and he never succeeded in marching in step… I decided to give my father lessons myself… But my father’s progress was still inadequate. ” (pg. 53) • Lowered motor skills
CHAPTER 3 -4 Summary • Realization about what is really happening, pessimistic • Religious values revealed to be more important than family matters • Physical degradation causes lowered motor skills
CHAPTER 5 -6 • “He was standing near the wall, bowed down, his shoulders sagging as though beneath a heavy burden. ” (pg. 65) • Physical degradation, weaker shoulders
CHAPTER 5 -6 • “I did not fast, mainly to please my father, who had forbidden me to do so. ” (pg. 66) • Still faithful to God
CHAPTER 5 -6 • “How would he pass the selection. He had aged so much…” (pg. 67) • Becoming physically unfit
CHAPTER 5 -6 • “What would he do without me? I was his only support. ” (pg. 82) • Depended on Elie for support
CHAPTER 5 -6 • “Don’t be afraid, son. Sleep – you can sleep. I’ll look after you myself. ” (pg. 85) • Selfless despite his condition
CHAPTER 5 -6 • “My God, Lord of the Universe, give me strength never to do what Rabbi Eliahou’s son has done. ” (pg. 87) • Loved by his son
CHAPTER 5 -6 Summary • Further weakness in physical abilities • Starting to become a burden to his son • Elie’s father still wants to care for his son despite his limitations
CHAPTER 7 -8 • “My father was huddled near me, wrapped in his blanket, his shoulders covered with snow. And was he dead, too? . . . there was no more reason to live, no more reason to struggle. ” (pg. 93) • Significant; presence required for Elie’s will to live
CHAPTER 7 -8 • “Father! Wake up. They’re trying to throw you out of the carriage…” (pg. 94) • Grown weak to the point where he is considered dead to others
CHAPTER 7 -8 • “Don’t let yourself go under… You must resist. Don’t lose faith in yourself. ” (pg. 97) • Persistent faith despite hardships
CHAPTER 7 -8 • “I can’t go on… This is the end… I’m going to die here…” (pg. 100) • Hopelessness
CHAPTER 7 -8 • “He looked at me for a moment, and his gaze was distant, visionary; it was the face of someone else. ” (pg. 102) • Face altered significantly by the Holocaust
CHAPTER 7 -8 • “…I stayed gazing at him for an hour, engraving in to myself the picture of his blood-stained face, his shattered skull. ” (pg. 106) • Battered to near-death
CHAPTER 7 -8 Summary • • Becomes much more precious to Elie Physical degradation to the point where he was considered dead Persistent in faith, but loses hope soon Altered face
PURPOSE OF THE NOVEL • To testify about the effects of the Holocaust on the Jews to ensure it does not happen again • “Never shall I forget that night…”
PURPOSE OF THE NOVEL • Elie’s father shows that a well-respected community leader can be degraded to a weak, somber, and helpless person
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