I mainly agree with what you are saying about reality. I think the reality in Night is beyond what any sane person could believe, or comprehend. The times were very hard in the concentration camps, and father and son relationships were put to the test. The head of Elie's block, brought this into perspective for the readers by saying "Listen to me, boy... you're in a concentration camp. Here, every man has to fight for himself and not think of anyone else." (Elie 105) This was when Elie's father was very ill, and had not the energy to get up to feed himself, and Elie had been sharing his own rations with his dying father. This act was kindness, but kindness did not save oneself in a concentration camp.
I would like to differ from your opinion about people not being fazed by seeing men, women and children thrown into fires. I think that these people were fazed, but after seeing it enough times started to become desensitized. When they saw killings, and dehumanizing gestures everyday, day after day, at some point I think they were simply glad it was not them, or anyone they knew. Later on in the book, people were only glad it wasn't them being burned or killed, for the attachment which forms between friends and family had broken, down to the simplest instinct to stay alive.
Religion has always been a tricky subject, when times get hard. When times get a little tricky, as in Night, religion can be pushed aside for practicality. In the concentration camps, some decided to fast during Yom Kippur, while others decided that their well being, and health was more important than being perfectly religious. This debate continues today, with some adults relying on praying instead of medicine to cure their children. (Spong)
Spong, John. "Parents Relying on Religion to Heal Sick Children." The
Washington Post. 1 June 2009. Web. 18 Mar. 2012.
<http://onfaith.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/panelists
/john_shelby_spong
/2009/06/parents_relying_on_religion_to_heal_sick_children.html>.
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