Night Lesson Plan

After attempting to placate her, the passengers in Elie's train car bind and gag Mrs. Schächter. How does Wiesel characterize this behavior? Based on his narrative, do you think this action was justified, or unnecessarily cruel?

Students may consider in what circumstances the needs of the majority outweigh the fate of one individual. In this stressful and frightening situation, Mrs. Schächter's fear is contagious. Quieting her may help restore some modicum of peace for the rest of the passengers. Students may also pick up on the fact that the cruelty enacted upon the Jewish deportees by the Hungarian police and the Germans is similarly contagious--being forced...