In the book "Night" by Elie Wiesel, there is a scene that vividly demonstrates the extreme brutality of both the German laborers and the Jewish prisoners. This scene takes place in the concentration camp where Eliezer and his father are imprisoned.
1. German Laborers' Brutality: One instance that showcases the cruelty of the German laborers is when they brutally beat the Jewish prisoners for no reason. The German workers, who were often the overseers in the camp, would unleash their anger and aggression on the helpless prisoners, inflicting physical and emotional pain without any justification. This violence was a tool of control and intimidation used by the German forces to assert their power over the prisoners.
2. Jewish Prisoners' Brutality: On the other hand, the scene also reveals the internal brutality among the Jewish prisoners themselves. In an environment of extreme suffering and deprivation, some prisoners resorted to selfish and inhumane actions to survive. This could involve betraying or harming their fellow prisoners to gain favors or privileges from the German authorities. The harsh conditions of the camp led to a breakdown of moral values among some prisoners, resulting in acts of cruelty towards their own comrades.
By portraying the horrors inflicted by both the German laborers and the Jewish prisoners, this scene in "Night" underscores the dehumanizing impact of the Holocaust on all those involved. It illustrates how the extreme circumstances of the concentration camps brought out the worst in people, revealing the depths of brutality and desperation that can arise in such dire situations.
