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Ghettos
Elie, along with the other Jews in his area, was moved to the ghettos. Here, everything was crammed and harsh, but at least he was with his father. Soon after, they were transported to labor camps, where they had to slave away for a long while. If they showed weakness, they would be killed. This was a turning point since this was the start of the war and all that would follow. Times have not become bad enough for Elie to stop believing in God. -
Cattle Cars
Elie and his family were put into cattle cars and they traveled for a long while. When they traveled, they had no drinks or anything to eat. People had to take turns laying down in the cattle cars. This is character development, as he has to get stronger mentally and prepare himself. Nevertheless, conditions are not bad enough that Elie would stop believing in God. -
Auschwitz
They were moved to Auschwitz. On the train ride there, Madame Sachtcher had visions of fires, although there were none in sight. When they arrive they see the fires she was talking about, and they were coming from the crematories. Here, sadly, his mother dies. This is one of the turning points, as he is not in a real concentration camp, with death looming around every corner. When his mother dies, he wonders if there really a God because if there was, he wouldn't let her die. -
Buna
After hree weeks of being at Auschwitz, Elie and his father were transferred to Buna. The dentist there wanted to take his golden tooth, and three people (two adults and a child) were hung. When it came to Yom Kippur, Elie didn't fast, as he thought he was already being starved enough as it was, and he was rebelling against God. This was a turning point, as at this point he started believing in God less and less. This is the initiation of the theme statement. -
Hurt Leg
Unfortunately, Elie hurts his leg. Deemed unable to work, he is sent to the hospital. Although he is hurt, the hospital is much better than working. He is given more food and water and left to rest. This is character development, as he cannot walk. Here, Elie wonders if God is helping him or not, and whether God exists. -
Evacuation and Death March
After news of the approach of the Russian Armies, they all evacuate the camps. Here, he has to choose to stay behind and be killed or run on his hurt foot in the many layers of snow. He chooses to run, and goes on the "Death march", where he has to run 40 miles overnight. This is character development, as he makes up his mind to stay with his father, through thick in thin. They had gone through so much together. However, he believes in God less and less. -
Gliewitz and Buchenwald
The prisoners arrive at Gliewitz, where they are in such a rush to get inside, Elie and his father get piled under lifeless bodies. They stay here for three days without food or water. They are then moved to another camp by train. On the ten-day-long ride there, they were still not given food or water. There was a man who had a piece of bread, and his son murdered him for it. This is even more character development, as he now truly sees how desperate people are. At this point, there is no God. -
Father's Death
AT Buchenwald, Elie is separated from his father during an air raid. When they are reunited, Elie finds out his father's condition has become worse. Soon enough, Elie's father is bed-ridden with Dysentry and sent to the crematory. This was definately a turning point, as he lost his only reason to live. He had always fought to stay with his father. He had been through so much with him, yet he lost him so close to the end of the war. Elie doesn't believe in God at all anymore. -
Liberation
The Jews that were left in Buchenwald started to be evacuated. However, before they were able to, American Forces launch a successful air raid. The people who were left in the camp were liberated. This was a positive turning point. He went from the horrors of the war to freedom once again.
At the end of all this, Elie was not religious at all. The boy who begged his father to get him a mentor to teach him Caballa became a man who didn't believe in god at all. -
Theme Statement
When life is horrible to you, all your beliefs can fade away.
