Eliezer “Elie” Wiesel

At the start of the story, Elie is an introspective schoolboy who immerses himself in religious studies. He is very much dependent on and loyal to his parents. His whole family is ripped away by force from their peaceful village of Sighet and exposed to the brutality of Auschwitz and Buchenwald. His account shows his experience during the Holocaust was both a fight for survival and a test of his faith. While Elie manages to win his battle for survival, he apparently fails the test of his faith.

Chlomo Wiesel

A highly-esteemed grocer, religious leader, and person of interest in the village of Sighet, Elie’s father is his sole confidant throughout his exile and hardships at the hands of the SS. Unlike Elie, Chlomo’s faith consists of observing all the Jewish rituals and upholding the law without question or skepticism. Although his son’s...