Question

In this excerpt, Eliezer is in Auschwitz, and he has learned the truth about the crematoria. In his barracks, a search is underway for prisoners who have new shoes.

excerpt from Night by Elie Wiesel

I had new shoes myself. But as they were coated with a thick layer of mud, no one had noticed them. I thanked God, in an improvised prayer, for having created mud in His infinite and wonderful universe.

Which statement best describes Eliezer's viewpoint of the fact that the mud hides his shoes?


Eliezer does not view the mud as an act of God but says the prayer out of fear.

Eliezer does not view the mud as an act of God but says the prayer because he does not want to upset his father.

Eliezer views the mud as an act of God because his faith in God is still strong after entering Auschwitz.

Eliezer views the mud as an act of God out of habit because that is how he viewed the world before entering Auschwitz.

Answer 1

The sentence that describes Eliezer's viewpoint of the fact that the mud hides his shoes is the last one: "Eliezer views the mud as an act of God out of habit because that is how he viewed the world before entering Auschwitz."

Since his arrival in Auschwitz, he has lost faith in God. This is an example of verbal irony. Other prisoners are stealing shoes because they need them but since Eliezer's are covered in mud, the other ones don't notice they are new and he gets to keep them.