Question

As the train filled with prisoners passes through German towns, a worker throws a piece of bread into the wagon and the prisoners fight violently for it. Wiesel briefly interrupts his narrative to tell a story from another time, long after the war, about a woman throwing coins to poor children in Aden, Yemen. Why does he tell this story? How does this recollection affect you as a reader?

Answer 1

Elie Wiesel's story about a woman throwing coins to poor children in Aden, Yemen is meant to contrast with the brutal experience of the prisoners on the train passing through German towns. The juxtaposition of these two stories highlights the stark difference between acts of cruelty and acts of compassion.

By telling this story, Wiesel is reminding us that even in the darkest moments of humanity, there are still stories of kindness and empathy. Despite the horrors he experienced during the Holocaust, Wiesel still held onto hope and believed in the goodness of people. The story reminds us that even small acts of kindness, like throwing a piece of bread or giving coins to children, can have a powerful impact on those who receive it.

As a reader, this recollection affects me deeply. It gives me a moment of relief from the harrowing narrative and reinforces the importance of compassion, empathy, and humanity. It also serves as a reminder that while we can never erase the atrocities that occurred during the Holocaust, we can learn from them and strive to create a more compassionate world.