Protagonists, Setting, and Inhumanity: How 'Night' and 'Schindler's List' Address Survival, Abuse of Power, and Courage in the Face of Adversity Anonymous 9th Grade

The academy award-winning film Schindler's List directed by Steven Spielberg and the novel Night written by Nobel Peace prize winner Elie Wiesel both explore the ideas of abuse of power, courage in the face of adversity and survival during the times of Nazi domination in Germany. Spielberg utilises the antagonist, protagonist and setting to explore the concepts of abuse of power, courage in the face of adversity and survival whilst Wiesel utilises minor characters, the protagonist and the setting.

In the film, Spielberg utilises the technique of the antagonist whilst in the novel, Wiesel utilises the technique of minor characters to explore the idea of abuse of power. Spielberg's utilisation of the antagonist known as Amon Goeth emphasises how too much power leads to negative actions and ultimate control. Amon Goeth, the Nazi commander of a working camp, has ultimate control and power over the camp and leads to abusing this power by finding pleasure through killing. A scene within the film of Amon Goeth abusing power was during a morning where he obtained a sniper rifle on a balcony overlooking the camp and shot randomly at innocent Jewish prisoners. Spielberg implements the low angle shot to portray Goeth’s powerful nature and...