My analysis in this paper will begin with a short description of Elie Wiesel’s life since it plays an important role in most of his stories, especially in his early works (later he tried to avoid autobiographical similarities). According to Wiesel, he only writes as a witness and because he is a witness; that is why lots of autobiographical information can be found in his stories – even if it becomes less obvious in his later works. Wiesel’s main protagonists are mostly similar to the young Elie: they are making or have made comparable experiences before, during, and after the Holocaust; they come from the same little town and live in the same places, such as Paris, New York, and the USA. The characters and the outcome of each story reveal Wiesel’s thoughts and opinions.
In the second part of this paper, I will investigate Wiesel’s understanding of madness. This will clarify the importance of madness for Elie Wiesel and it will show that, for Wiesel, madness is much more than just a mental disorder in the common sense.
Having given some insight into Wiesel’s past and in his comprehension of madness, I will turn to the actual analysis of the four novels. I will examine the madmen, madwomen, and other occurrences of madness in each novel, and interpret my results regarding their respective function.
In my conclusion, I will show that there are several functions of madness in Wiesel’s novels: he wants to show us that in our insane world faith, even if it sometimes seems like sheer madness too, is important to survive and to overcome insanity.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Elie Wiesel
- Wiesel's View on Madness
- Madness in Wiesel's Works
- Night, Dawn, Day
- Night
- Dawn
- Day
- Twilight
- Night, Dawn, Day
- Conclusion
- Works Cited
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper explores the function of madness in Elie Wiesel's writing, focusing on his early novels "Night," "Dawn," and "Day," and his novel on madness, "Twilight." It aims to analyze how Wiesel's understanding of madness, influenced by his experiences as a Holocaust survivor, shapes the narrative and thematic elements of his works. The paper also investigates how madness serves as a means of exploring faith, survival, and the psychological consequences of trauma.
- The significance of madness in Elie Wiesel's understanding of the Holocaust and its impact on individuals.
- The role of faith and mysticism in confronting madness and finding meaning in the face of suffering.
- The exploration of different forms of madness, including physical and psychological trauma, and the role of God in these experiences.
- The use of madmen as messengers of God, conveying deeper truths and challenging conventional perceptions.
- The relationship between autobiographical elements and fictional narratives in Wiesel's works.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter introduces the concept of madness as a central theme in Elie Wiesel's writing, highlighting his personal experiences with the Holocaust and his philosophical exploration of the subject. It also outlines the scope of the paper, focusing on four key novels: "Night," "Dawn," "Day," and "Twilight."
- Elie Wiesel: This chapter provides a brief biographical sketch of Elie Wiesel, highlighting his childhood, his family's experiences during the Holocaust, and his path towards becoming a writer. It emphasizes the influence of his personal experiences on his understanding of madness and his decision to write as a witness.
- Wiesel's View on Madness: This chapter delves into Wiesel's unique conception of madness, arguing that it goes beyond a mere mental disorder. It explores his belief that madmen possess a deeper insight into the world and that the question of who is truly mad is a complex one.
- Madness in Wiesel's Works: This chapter analyzes the depiction of madness in Wiesel's novels, examining the characters, events, and themes related to this subject. It explores how madness functions as a vehicle for exploring faith, survival, and the psychological consequences of the Holocaust.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The paper focuses on the exploration of madness in Elie Wiesel's works, specifically examining the function of madness as a narrative and thematic element in his early novels "Night," "Dawn," and "Day," and his novel on madness, "Twilight." Key themes include the Holocaust, faith, mysticism, survival, psychological trauma, and the role of madmen as messengers of God.
- Quote paper
- Kirsten Nath (Author), 2007, The Function of Madness in Elie Wiesel's Works, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/75046
