Friday, November 7, 2008

Mind Over Matter


Throughout the memoir, Wiesel describes his experiences in realistic and intimate detail. He uses his words to paint a vivid picture of the hell that was the Holocaust. How is he able to do this? Don't people normally block "the bad things" from their memory in an attempt to overcome the pain? How is Wiesel able to portray such a realistic story of something that occurred in his past? Also, is it important that survivors tell their stories? Why? (Wiesel has his opinion about this issue, but what is your opinion?)


There are a couple of different possibilities allowing Elie to talk about his experiences throughout the Holocaust. One hypothesis our group has stumbled upon is it helps Elie by talking about these things. Instead of keeping things balled up inside, he chooses to talk about them and release what could be anger. By writing the book NIGHT, it gives him a sense of relief and shares the story of the Holocaust. It is a cathartic experience. Elie felt so low and there was only one thing to do that could do any good, just sit down and write. People normally try to block "the bad things" from their memory because it hurts too much to talk or even think about it. Elie gets relief from this by expressing his emotions. We believe it is important survivors tell their stories because if they do not tell then the stories are one-sided. The Nazis would be the only other people who would know what happened besides the victims. So the only stories we would hear are from the Nazi point-of-view and the Jewish side would not be told. In conclusion, it is important for the survivors to tell their story so we can get an accurate account of what actually happened at the camps.

11 comments:

Katrina said...

woo [:
i like it!

nice picture.
i'll come to your guy's group and Josh can come to ours lol.

NOT!

donnie p. said...

I think your about right, that maybe he has no choice, maybe the memories are like an addiction that is impossable to get rid of.

Lindee said...

Its true that what he was holding in was probably anger, and so some how he was able to let it out and tell his story of what happened. Also sure for an accurate account we would want to hear their story but maybe add more of why, like since they went through it we could get their point of view. Otherwise good job!

Nikki W. said...

I agree with you. I do believe that they tell their story to get rid of the anger or other feelings they had. I like how you said "Its important survivors tell their stories because if they do not tell then the stories are one-sided." I think that is true because then how would we know what went on from the camps. Good Job! Keep up the good work.

Michael said...

Nice post. i really liked how you said if the victims did not tell there side of what really happened the Nazi would be the only people telling the story and it would be one-sided.

***SHANO THE DRAINO*** said...

You guys had a good post. I liked how you went in to detail in your answer. I agree with your post a 100%. GREAT POST!

Jackie G. said...

I like how your group said that there are a couple of different possibilities allowing Elie to talk about his experiences throughout the Holocaust. That was a very good way to start out your answer. I really liked it and there was a lot of detail in your post.

Scott said...

I agree with your post it was good. I like how you said that survivors should tell their stories because if they didn't people would never know what really happened or how bad it really was. I also think that Elie told his story because he didn't want to have it all inside of him and he had to tell somebody.

Shelby E. said...

That could be true bout Elie writing NIGHT to release all of his anger built up inside of him. I'm sure it helped in a sense to get some of the horrible things out and let people know about the things that had happened to him. I also agree with your last answer. It helps a lot to hear the survivors stories because they actually went through it. Good job.

Natasha said...

If it was left up to the Nazis to tell the story then there would be no Holocaust. If we asked them about, we would be told it never happened and these people just disappeared off the face of the earth for no reason. So I agree. By writing his experiences down, he gives a voice to so many others who cannot speak for themselves or were never given the chance. So I agree with your post.

Siebz said...

I agree with what you said, and I didn't see it that way. That if none of the Jews would tell their side of the story, that the only thing we would know would be what the Nazis had told us, and we all know that none of that was true. Good post.