Essay Sample: What is the meaning of life? (Night vs Out, Out)

This age-old question has no clear answer. Were we put on this Earth for a reason? Through the analysis of the distinct diction and clear comparisons of the novel Night and the poem, “Out, Out-”, Wiesel and Frost suggest life is meaningless and quick, while implementing their perception into the world today in the form of dehumanization, lack of humanity, and loss of innocence. Therefore, it is evident that the meaning of life is understood solely through personal interpretation. 

To begin, the idea of dehumanization in both works creates an indifferent tone which shows that death is insignificant. In Night, the Jews were dehumanized in a plethora of ways. Some examples of this dehumanization is that they were branded with numbers and, “had no other name” along with the stripping of their hair and clothes for, “true equality: nakedness” (Wiesel 42, 35). These instances took away their individuality because they no longer had an identity and were looked at as a collective group more than as human beings. In addition, in “Out Out-”, the boy was dehumanized through the personification of his detached hand instead of the rest of his body. To further, the statements “but the hand” and, “leaped...at the...hand” prove that the others only cared about the severed hand and not the human boy himself (Frost). This dehumanized the boy because all of the empathy that was supposed to be for him went to his hand that was no longer part of him. Both of these instances of dehumanization create an indifferent tone because they represent the idea an individual life is unimportant. This connects to the real world today because, in times of tragedy, people are often viewed as a group of statistics as opposed to singular human lives.

Speaking of indifference, a pattern present in both the autobiography and the poem is the lack of humanity in trying times, which gives off an apathetic tone. In Night, Elie is told that to survive the concentration camps its, “every man for himself” and that he should, “not think of others” because everyone, “lives and dies alone” (Wiesel 110). In addition, Elie was unaffected by the people being thrown off the train and only, “woke up from...apathy” when the “gravediggers” were a threat to him (Wiesel 99). These situations are significant because they prove the selfishness and apathy for others that was present at this time. This is true in “Out Out-”, as well when the boy passes away. To add, because they were, “not the one dead” the others simply, “turned to their affairs” like nothing happened (Frost). This suggests a lack of humanity because, typically, the death of a loved one is Earth-shattering and difficult to move on from, but it is easy for the people of this poem to go on with their lives. Both of these examples convey a tone of apathy because the characters do not react with the same emotion as would be expected from one in their shoes. Furthermore, it shows the negative effects that traumatic events have on an individual’s psyche is universal and that humanity’s neurological composition can stand the test of time.

Often, people say that the trauma they have experienced matures them. This explains why the young boys in both works experience the loss of their childish innocence, forming a somber tone. An example of this in Night is that the Jews, “left behind...their childhood” when they were forced out of their homes (Weisel 17). In addition, towards the end of his father’s life, Elie must reverse roles and become a father-like figure to his parent who, “had become childlike” (Weisel 105). This connects to the loss of innocence because Elie had to grow up quickly and have the maturity of an adult when he was only a teenager. This idea presents itself in, “Out Out-” when it is stated that the boy was, “doing a man’s work” when he was still, “a child at heart” (Frost). The idea of a loss of innocence is suggested in these remarks because children are supposed to be carefree and lack responsibilities, but this boy had to do the same job that would be expected of a grown man. All of these examples support a somber tone because children were forced to grow up in the dark days they lived in, weather it was the holocaust or child labor. With that being said, it makes sense that early maturity in the world today is the cause of premature loss of innocence.

In closing, through the analysis of the diction and comparisons of Night and “Out, Out-”, the audience is able to explore concepts in-depth such as dehumanization, lack of humanity, and loss of innocence as a result of traumatic events. In doing this, one gains the ability to better understand anthropology as a whole. As a result, the differing opinions on the meaning of life become clearer leading to the formation of individual theories on the matter.