"Some were crying. They used whatever strength they had left to cry. Why had they let themselves be brought here? Why didn't they die in their beds? Their words were interspersed with sobs."(35)
Wiesel's language is accusatory. He blames the Jews for "letting" themselves be taken away from the concentration camp. He speaks as though they had a choice. The Jews of Sighet, however, do have time to escape, but they are convinced by delusion that the terrible fate they have reached is unreal. Although Hitler may have set up the concentration camps, Wiesel seems to think that the Jews should have escaped when they were still able to. He asks, "why didn't they die in their beds?" in a moment of utter and primal rage. It is noteworthy that Wiesel uses the word "they" in all of his accusations because he is using the word to make the other Jews become the others. He really has no one nearby who he can blame for the Holocaust but those around him, so he takes the opportunity as a way of coping with his immense grief. This truth is further proved by the fact that he is guilty to just as much as he accuses the other Jews. Thus, as a way of coping, Wiesel creates a scapegoat, the exact same tactic Hitler used.
I agree that Wiesel and Hitler both created scapegoats, but the concept of ill-founded blame is nothing new. Scapegoats are found all throughout history, and we've read of undeserved blame in previous books (one being Frankenstein). Another example besides the Nazis' persecution of the Jews that I think should be mentioned is the KKK's persecution of African-Americans in the deep South of America.
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