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Examples Of Hope In Knight By Elie Wiesel

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Despite the bitter realities, we always search for the silver lining or light at the end of the tunnel. There's always that one key aspect that keeps one motivated to continue on. The value of Hope is proven in Elie Wiesel's memoir Knight as well as throughout The True Story of Hansel and Gretel by Louise Murphy. Although the key to survival is maintaining hope, while simultaneously the delusions can be one's Achilles Heal. Despite the value of optimism, false delusions often leave one vulnerable as a result of delusions and a false sense of security. Elie and the Jews weren't informed of the dangers of the concentration camps, thus they were unprepared for their new harsh reality. Elie believed the camps would be safe, and upon initial arrival …show more content…

Elie aspired to keep his father alive, and that drove him to keep both of them alive as long as possible. After the run to the concentration camp, Elie was ready to give up like all those around him, he was ready to give in to his urges and sleep in the snow and let the frigid cold close in on him. However, Elie's father made sure they took turns taking short light naps, making sure to avoid fully giving in to the cold. Elie hoped to keep his father alive and formed a bond with him that wasn't there before. Despite his injured foot, he chose to run to the next camp with his father since he believed it to be necessary for them to live. Later, Elie suffers an internal conflict when his father passes and he fails to meet his fathers final wish of getting water. Elie is then left to wonder if he had truly failed him or if his actions were necessary for his own survival. Although his hopes for his father motivated him through the majority of his imprisonment, Elie still continues on hoping for liberation. His hopes for his father enabled him to adjust to prison life and to grow up as required. Similarly, hopes for family also drove the Mechanik. "'What's there for you brother?' 'Something I hope'" (Murphy 232-233). The Mechanik had lost his family in the unforgiving woods in winter, yet he continued with the partisan group and fought on. The possible chance of reuniting with his loved ones was enough to motivate the Mechanik throughout his journey. Even after seeing the ashes at Piaski, the Father still returns to Bialystok, knowing it's where his kids would go should they still be alive. He is faced with evidence of his kids' death, but still is motivated to travel home hoping they may someday return to him. The Mechanik lives through the war in order to be there for his kids and he is motivated by hopes of family to contribute to the partisan group and find ways

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