Question

On page 19, Wiesel writes, "From behind our windows, from behind their shutters, our fellow citizens watched as we passed. " Why did Wiesel use the phrase, "fellow citizens," and how does this impact the reader’s understanding of this passage?

Answer 1

Wiesel uses the phrase "fellow citizens" to highlight the fact that the Jews were not foreigners or outsiders, but rather they were members of the same society as the non-Jewish citizens who were watching them pass by. This emphasizes the idea that the Jews were not strangers or enemies, but rather they were part of the same community as their fellow citizens. By using this phrase, Wiesel creates a sense of shared identity and belonging that is meant to underline the tragedy of the Holocaust and the senseless destruction of human life that occurred. Furthermore, the use of "fellow citizens" may also suggest a sense of betrayal or abandonment on the part of those who watched without intervening or speaking out against the persecution of the Jews. This phrase thus emphasizes the complex and difficult relationship between the Jewish minority and the non-Jewish majority in Europe during the Holocaust.