CHARACTERIZATION OF
CHLOMO WIESEL
Jacob Devera, Jacob Krieger, Ben Bogle, Megan
Smith, Mark Malabuen
CHAPTER 1-2
• “My father was a cultured, rather
unsentimental man… The Jewish
community in Sighet held him in the
greatest esteem.” (pg. 2)
• Respected by others, does not display
emotions openly
CHAPTER 1-2
• “I’m too old to start a new life. I’m too
old to start from scratch again in a
country so far away…” (pg. 6)
• Not comfortable with change
CHAPTER 1-2
•
“…the yellow star? Oh well, what of it? You don’t die of it.”
(pg. 9)
•
Looking on the bright side, optimism
CHAPTER 1-2
•
“My father wept. It was the first time I had ever seen
him weep. I had never imagined that he could.” (pg.
16)
•
Signs of sadness
CHAPTER 1-2
Summary
•
•
•
•
Started out respected by others, did not openly display his feelings
Did not like change, took the risk of staying in Sighet instead of moving
Looked on the bright side, did not think much of the Holocaust
Showed signs of sadness at Birkenau
CHAPTER 3-4
• “Humanity? Humanity is not concerned with us. Today
anything is allowed. Anything is possible, even these
crematories…” (pg. 30)
• Comes to a realization, pessimistic
CHAPTER 3-4
• “…How he had changed. His eyes had grown
dim. I would have liked to speak to him, but I
did not know what to say.” (pg. 34)
• Start of physical degradation
CHAPTER 3-4
• “…my father was always up to his neck in the
affairs of the Jewish community, and much less
well versed in family matters.” (pg. 40)
• Places his religious values over the family
CHAPTER 3-4
• “…any anger I felt at that moment was directed, not against the
Kapo, but against my father. I was angry with him, for not
knowing how to avoid Idek’s outbreak.” (pg. 52)
• Less focused, lowered concentration
CHAPTER 3-4
• “When I spoke to my father about it, he turned pale,
was silent a long while, and then said: ‘No son, you
mustn’t do it.’ ‘He’ll take it out on us.’ ‘He won’t dare.’”
(pg. 52-53)
• Looks out for his son
CHAPTER 3-4
• “My father had never done military service, and
he never succeeded in marching in step… I
decided to give my father lessons myself… But
my father’s progress was still inadequate.” (pg.
53)
• Lowered motor skills
CHAPTER 3-4
Summary
• Realization about what is really happening, pessimistic
• Religious values revealed to be more important than family matters
• Physical degradation causes lowered motor skills
CHAPTER 5-6
• “He was standing near the wall, bowed down, his shoulders sagging as though
beneath a heavy burden.” (pg. 65)
• Physical degradation, weaker shoulders
CHAPTER 5-6
• “I did not fast, mainly to please my father, who
had forbidden me to do so.” (pg. 66)
• Still faithful to God
CHAPTER 5-6
• “How would he pass the selection. He had aged so
much…” (pg. 67)
• Becoming physically unfit
CHAPTER 5-6
• “What would he do without me? I was his only support.” (pg. 82)
• Depended on Elie for support
CHAPTER 5-6
• “Don’t be afraid, son. Sleep – you can sleep. I’ll look after you
myself.” (pg. 85)
• Selfless despite his condition
CHAPTER 5-6
• “My God, Lord of the Universe, give me strength never
to do what Rabbi Eliahou’s son has done.” (pg. 87)
• Loved by his son
CHAPTER 5-6
Summary
• Further weakness in physical abilities
• Starting to become a burden to his son
• Elie’s father still wants to care for his son despite his limitations
CHAPTER 7-8
• “My father was huddled near me, wrapped in his blanket, his shoulders
covered with snow. And was he dead, too?...there was no more reason to live,
no more reason to struggle.” (pg. 93)
•
Significant; presence required for Elie’s will to live
CHAPTER 7-8
• “Father! Father! Wake up. They’re trying to throw you out of the
carriage…” (pg. 94)
• Grown weak to the point where he is considered dead to others
CHAPTER 7-8
• “Don’t let yourself go under… You must resist.
Don’t lose faith in yourself.” (pg. 97)
• Persistent faith despite hardships
CHAPTER 7-8
• “I can’t go on… This is the end… I’m going to die
here…” (pg. 100)
• Hopelessness
CHAPTER 7-8
• “He looked at me for a moment, and his gaze was distant,
visionary; it was the face of someone else.” (pg. 102)
• Face altered significantly by the Holocaust
CHAPTER 7-8
• “…I stayed gazing at him for an hour, engraving
in to myself the picture of his blood-stained
face, his shattered skull.” (pg. 106)
• Battered to near-death
CHAPTER 7-8
Summary
•
•
•
•
Becomes much more precious to Elie
Physical degradation to the point where he was considered dead
Persistent in faith, but loses hope soon
Altered face
PURPOSE OF THE NOVEL
• To testify about the effects of the Holocaust
on the Jews to ensure it does not happen again
• “Never shall I forget that night…”
PURPOSE OF THE NOVEL
• Elie’s father shows that a well-respected
community leader can be degraded to a weak,
somber, and helpless person