Final answer:
Elie's cousin, Alter, whom he and his father did not recognize in Auschwitz, appeared before them during selection in the camp. Alter had undergone a drastic transformation due to the harsh conditions in the concentration camp, causing Elie and his father to fail to recognize him.
Explanation:
Elie Wiesel's memoir, "Night," chronicles his experiences as a Holocaust survivor. In this harrowing account, Elie and his father were both imprisoned in Auschwitz, a notorious Nazi concentration camp. During selection, a process by which prisoners were sorted into groups based on their perceived health and fitness for labor or death, Elie's cousin Alter appeared before them.
However, Elie and his father did not recognize him. This was because Alter had undergone a drastic transformation due to the horrific conditions in the camp. The physical and emotional toll of starvation, disease, and brutal treatment had left Alter emaciated and unrecognizable. The experience of being stripped of one's identity and humanity in such an environment was a common theme in the Holocaust, as survivors often emerged from the camps as mere shadows of their former selves.
The story of Elie and his cousin Alter serves as a poignant reminder of the devastating impact that the Holocaust had on individuals and families alike. It also highlights the importance of preserving one's identity and sense of self in the face of adversity.