Silence in the Novels of Elie Wiesel - Tapa dura

Silence exists as a complex and rich phenomenon in the writings of Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel. A powerfully active force that has affected all levels of his creative process, silence appears in the early works as a result of the destructive forces of the Holocaust, eventually emerging as a challenge to annihilation. Ultimately, silence becomes a regenerative force that permits Wiesel's protagonists to seek their demolished selves and to reconstruct their lives.
Moving from the epicenter of Wiesel's literary universe, La Nuit (Night), to his most recent novel, L'Oublie (The Forgotten), this analysis places his writings within a framework of sacred and profane thought. Such a dual context not only entrenches the novels within Jewish tradition, but also within the development of postwar and contemporary French fiction and thought. Sibelman highlights Wiesel's link to Camus and Sartre, while reinforcing his place among other writers who survived the Holocaust.
By skillfully utilizing the evolving theme of silence, the novels' protagonists come to represent Wiesel's paradigm of post-Holocaust humanity - searching for meaning in life, in dialogue with fellow human beings, and in a new covenant with the silent God of the anus mundi.

Simon P. Sibelman is Associate Professor of French at the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh.