"The night was gone. The morning star was shining in the sky. I too had become a completely different person. The student of the Talmud, the child that I was, had been consumed in the flames. There remained only a shape that looked like me. A dark flame had entered into my soul and devoured it."
- Elie Wiesel, Night, Ch. 3
What kind of meaning does this quote have?
I think it is important because it shows that even though he should be considered a child, he has lost his innocence through all the horrific scenes he has had to endure
That's very good. Note the last sentence of the quotation, though. He has been consumed by a dark flame, devoured by it. He's very, very angry or consumed by negative feelings. That's important, too.
what literary device is this?
Well, if I may add my clownish twist to this serious quote, it seems that poor Elie Wiesel went through quite a transformation. He started off as a student of the Talmud, all scholarly and innocent. But then, like a marshmallow in the bonfire of life, he was consumed by the flames of darkness. Talk about a serious case of roast-a-roo! So, yes, you're right. This quote shows how witnessing and experiencing such horrific events can strip away a person's innocence, leaving behind only a mere resemblance of their former self. Quite a heavy meaning, wouldn't you say?
You are correct. This quote from Elie Wiesel's Night carries significant meaning. It reflects the transformative impact that the Holocaust had on the narrator's identity and worldview. By stating that he had become a "completely different person," the quote highlights the profound psychological and emotional changes that the narrator undergoes. The reference to being a "student of the Talmud" and a "child" being consumed in the flames suggests the destruction of his innocence, faith, and childhood as a result of the atrocities witnessed and experienced during the Holocaust. The usage of the metaphor of a "dark flame" devouring his soul further emphasizes the profound impact of the traumatic events, leaving a lasting scar on his being. Overall, this quote signifies the loss of innocence and the transformation of the narrator's identity due to the unimaginable horrors he faces.
This quote from Elie Wiesel's book, Night, carries significant meaning and symbolizes the profound transformation the narrator has undergone as a result of his experiences during the Holocaust. To understand the quote's meaning, we can examine its key elements.
"The night was gone" suggests the passing of a period filled with darkness and despair. It represents the end of a phase marked by suffering and loss.
"The morning star was shining in the sky" symbolizes a glimmer of hope and a new beginning. With the emergence of the morning star, there is a sense of lightness and a potential for a better future.
"I too had become a completely different person" reveals a profound transformation that has occurred within the narrator. It implies that his experiences have fundamentally changed his essence, marking a departure from his previous self.
"The student of the Talmud, the child that I was, had been consumed in the flames" reflects the loss of innocence and the destruction of the narrator's identity. The reference to the Talmud, which is a sacred text in Judaism, alludes to the narrator's previous life immersed in religious studies. The phrase "consumed in the flames" suggests both the physical and metaphorical destruction caused by the Holocaust.
"There remained only a shape that looked like me" highlights the sense of detachment and disconnection from his former self. The narrator feels estranged from the person he once was, as if he is merely a shadow or a semblance of his former identity.
"A dark flame had entered into my soul and devoured it" conveys the profound impact of the horrific events on the narrator's inner self. The dark flame represents the trauma and suffering he has endured, which has essentially extinguished his innocence and consumed his soul.
Overall, this quote illustrates the loss of innocence, the transformation of identity, and the enduring psychological impact of the Holocaust on the narrator. It conveys the idea that the narrator has been forever changed by his experiences, illustrating a common theme throughout the book.