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Germans Invade
Summary: The Nazi's invade the town of Sighet where Elie and his family reside. They start moving the Jews to ghettos.
Character development: Elie starts to see how the Nazi's are effecting him for the first time.
This event relates to the theme of religion because although he was forced into a ghetto, he remained unaffected and continued to carry on his religious tasks as usual. -
Jews Are Transported
Summary: Elie and his family are forced out of the ghettos and into cattle cars. They have little space, no food, and no water.
Character development: This is Elie's first encounter with reality. Studying Judaism isn't the only thing he sees now, and he starts to immensely hate the Germans.
This event relates to the theme because religion isn't the only thing that Elie is concerned about at this point. -
Elie's Family Separates
Summary: The Jews come out of the cars and are separated by gender and then age/occupation.
Turning point: this first turning point was also a turning point to many that fell victim to the Holocaust-- being separated from their families. After being separated, the chances of seeing each other again are very little to none.
This relates to the theme because when Elie is told to sanctify His name, he questions why he should thank Him because He let the Nazis hurt the Jews. -
Working at Auschwitz
Summary: Elie ad his father are sent to Auschwitz to work. They have the choice of working or immediate death.
Character development: Elie is getting more accustomed to the life at camp. He is accepting the reality that this is what he will be doing for the rest of his life or until liberation.
This relates to the theme because Elie mentions that he stopped praying. He still believes that God exists, but he is starting to doubt His absolute justice. -
Rosh Hoshanah
Summary: All the people of the camp celebrate Rosh Hoshanah together despite their conditions.
Character development: This used to be the day where Elie had the most faith, but he felt like he was an observer among the people praying.
This relates to the theme because on the same day where he would pray and show immense faith he blames Him for killing all the Jews. He loses his faith in Him. -
Elie’s Father Dies
Summary: Elie and his father were moved to Buchenwald as his father gets progressively weaker. He is killed from a blow to the head by an officer.
Turning point: Elie hits rock bottom & questions if there is even a will to do anything anymore after he loses his father which was the last thing he wanted. He doesn’t even have any tears left to cry.
This relates to the theme statement because at this point he doesn’t even want to think of God when he is at such an all time low. -
Liberation
Summary: shortly after the cremation of his father, Elie is finally liberated by American troops and is hospitalized for food poisoning.
Character development: Elie is now a free man, no longer a prisoner to the Nazis. He can live the way he wants to now.
Whether he still has his faith or not is uncertain by the end of the book, but I can infer that Elie is too overwhelmed from getting his life back to think of his religion or beliefs and whether or not they will remain the same as before. -
Theme Statement
Events in life can change or make you doubt your beliefs no matter how strong they once were.
