Forgiveness and the Future

Elie should approach forgiveness of the Nazis thinking of his future state of mind and well-being because forgiveness, one of the toughest choices man must deal with, plays a big role in mental health later in life. Since the Jewish population does not believe God can forgive transgressions between man and man, Elie should forgive everyone who had a hand in the Holocaust, as he himself can only forgive. Forgiveness, the key to future sanity and well-being, will allow Elie to get over his past and become a stable, productive person in society. Elie needs to let go of the past because it cannot be changed in any way; what happened can no longer be taken away. If Elie will not let go of the past, he will never embrace his future; his past will haunt his life, thoughts, and dreams throughout the rest of his life. In addition, Elie cannot hope to receive forgiveness in future situations if he cannot give forgiveness in the present. It would be hypocritical to think one should be forgiven after constantly refusing to forgive another. In conclusion, with his future in mind, Elie should forgive those who have trespassed him so he can be happy in the rest of his life.