Question

The process of "selection" is repeatedly described in Night. In addition to its terrifying meaning for the prisoners, what does the selection process symbolize in this memoir?

the belief that when all seems lost, it may be saved at the last moment

the idea that justice can be found even among evildoers

the fact that people's lives are beyond their own control

the hope that in the future there will be no more such horrors

Answer 1

The fact that people's lives are beyond their own control.

Answer 2

Answer: the fact that people's lives are beyond their own control.

One of the main themes of Night is the fact that people's lives are beyond their own control, and this is exemplified throughout the story. The prisoners had no power to stop their capture, or to stop the tortures that go on inside the camps. One of the symbols that exemplifies this powerlessness is the "selection." The selection is the process of separating the weak and sick from the strong and "healthy." Although the prisoners do their best to appear healthy and fit, they ultimately have very little power over their own destiny.