Night Quote Analysis/Section 3

Quote # 1

"We're on the threshold of death, soon we shall have crossed over"(Wiesel 45).

The threshold of death is symbolized by the crossing over from living to dying. A threshold is like a gateway and when they cross over the threshold of the crematory they will enter death. Yechiel believes that they all are going to be murdered by the SS or because of their harsh conditions including their lack of food. There is really no way of surviving in a concentration camp or in a ghetto.  The SS are going to get rid of you if you don't die do to the living conditions. I think Yechiel knows that but he won't tell Elie because he doesn't want him to freak out or kill himself like he was thinking about before. Because Elie would much rather kill himself than make his father watch the death of his son. So they all think death will come eventually but they are all still unsure about when it will happen.

Quote #2

"A dark flame had entered into my soul and devoured it"(Wiesel 46).

Elie feels like his soul has been devoured by darkness. Devoured implies being taken or torn away from him, so his pure and innocent heart has been torn and ripped by the dark flame that he is talking about. I strongly believe that this dark flame symbolizes the evil side of Elie. This dark side of Elie appeared when he thought out a well developed plan for his own suicide because he couldn't stand the thought of being murdered.  This is when the unpleasant side of him was revealed to the readers.