The Scapegoat as a Method for Coping with Grief

While reading through Night, the following passage seemed to leap out from the page:

"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.

The annoyance of not being listened to

"Moishe was not the same. The joy in his eyes was gone. he no longer sang. He no longer mentioned either God or Kabbalah. He spoke only of what he had seen. But people not only refused to believe his tales, they refused to listen."

The frustration Moishe feels when he is not listened to is easy to relate to. When telling someone something profoundly good or bad that happened to them, you assume that they will be empathic and be as affected as you are. This idea reminded me of a book I read in 6th grade. The main character is a Holocaust surviver. Many years after, he lives in America and is telling his story to anyone that will listen. People are telling him to just move on from what happened, but he is still traumatized by the Holocaust. The event that happens to Moishe is very similar to this situation, but he also insists that he does not want pity. Moishe really wants people to know what is going to happen to the Jews. The people are in disbelief.