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What advice does Wiesel receive from the Blockalteste? Is this good advice?

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Final answer:

Elie Wiesel receives advice from the Blockälteste about survival in the concentration camp, focusing on self-preservation, retaining faith, and practicality. The goodness of advice is contextual, varying from advice on ruling a kingdom to strategizing in political debates.

Step-by-step explanation:

The advice that Wiesel receives from the Blockälteste in 'Night' is meant to help him survive the brutal conditions of the concentration camp. The Blockälteste counsels Eliezer to keep to himself, hold on to his shoes, and not to lose faith. While the advice may seem harsh or selfish at first glance, it reflects the reality of survival under extreme conditions. It emphasizes practicality and mental resilience, both of which were crucial for survival in the camps.

While the advice given in other contexts, such as from Blanche to King Louis IX or the character planning to escape for freedom, relates to guidance on ruling or gaining liberty, the advice Wiesel's character receives is about immediate survival. Debating whether advice is good can be subjective, as it depends on the outcomes and the circumstances surrounding the advice given. For instance, a political advisor, like Begala, might focus on how a candidate can perform in a way that resonates with voters during a debate, which involves a different kind of strategizing than physical survival or moral leadership.

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