Breaking Coventants for Self-Preservation over Family

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In Elie Wiesel’s novel, Night, he tells of his struggles as a victim during the Holocaust of World War II. The following quote exhibits one struggle faced by those participating in the war, the battle between staying true to family commitment or saving one’s self, “Listen to me, kid. Don’t forget that you are in a concentration camp. In this place, it is every man for himself, and you cannot think of others” (110). As designated in the passage the Blockälteste is warning Elie to start thinking of himself and not his father. The idea of leaving someone’s own father behind is a terrible outcome of war; however it is the reality of many people who have decided to save themselves. The choice between self-preservation and family commitment is a harsh reality that exists in all wars and is particularly present in related literature. Promises that men make have been connected with man since the beginning of time, and are the rocks for many human bonds. Breaking these covenants, disregarding the promise made to one’s family or going against ones’ word can be seen as a potential character flaw. One emotional and physical trauma of wartime is the choice to disregard a prior family commitment. Evidence of broken bonds can be seen through news articles on the Texas Revolutionary War, books on the Civil War, letters about World War I, textbooks including information on World War II, and journals from Vietnam. Discovering the existence of broken promises for self-preservation exhibits the importance of understanding the depth of wartime and the emotional trials placed on soldiers and victims of war rather than their family. First self-preservation versus family commitment can be seen during the Texas Revolutionary War, which began on October... ... middle of paper ... ...aking covenants for self-preservation over family is established in all wars and related literature. Works Cited Appleby, Joyce Oldham, Alan Brinkley, Albert S. Broussard, James M. McPherson, and Donald A. Ritchie. The American Vision. New York: Glencoe McGraw-Hill, 2003. Print. "Diary Entry August 16, 1968 Wounded On My Birthday." Redbubble. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 April 2014. "Tejanos Played Key Role in Texas Revolution." Houston Chronicle. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 April 2014. "Texas Revolution." - Academic Kids. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 April 2014. Volo, Dorothy Denneen, and James M. Volo. Daily Life in Civil War America. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1998. Print. Wiesel, Elie, and Marion Wiesel. Night. New York, NY: Hill and Wang, A Division of Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2006. Print. "WWI - Letters Home." I Love English Literature. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 April 2014.

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