Night: Conflict cause growth as well as loss in poeples lives

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Conflict has the ability to cause both growth and loss in people’s lives. The loss of dignity, beliefs, humanity and possessions can be a result of conflict. Conflict also provokes growth in individuals, in personal relationships, maturity, understanding and compassion can be hastened by conflict. When encountering conflict, people are usually confronted with loss. Conflict can cause the loss of humanity, dignity and beliefs. In Elie Wiesel’s autobiographical text, Night a major loss in Elie’s life, due to conflict, was the loss of his faith. The Conflict that Elie faced caused him to question and to lose his faith in God. “Never shall I forget that night … Never shall I forget those flames which consumed my faith forever” (Elie Wiesel, Night) The conflict that Elie encountered was so overpowering and influential on him, that it caused Elie to lose a part of him that, before conflict, had driven his entire life; faith. Conflict can also result in a loss of humanity. When humanity is lost, people can be provoked into making decisions lacking in compassion and take part in immoral actions against others. In WWII actions were taken against the Jewish people that were devoid of humanity. They were burnt alive, starved, imprisoned, forced t labour under horrifying conditions and were made to watch extreme acts of inhumanity in their day to day existence. Of these occurrences Elie, in Night states “Humanity? Humanity is not concerned with us.” Conflict had stripped the people of any holding humanity. Whilst it is clearly shown that conflict can result in loss, conflict also generates growth. It can result in a positive change within personal relationships and in maturity. Elie Wiesel experienced dramatic growth as a result in conflict. Elie’s father was a man held in esteem within the community and often people consulted with him on private and public matters.
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