We were the masters of nature, the masters of the world. We had transcended everything-death, fatigue, our natural needs. We were stronger than cold and hunger, stronger than the guns and the desire to die, doomed and rootless, nothing but numbers, we were the only men on earth. At
In Elie Wiesel's "Night," the quote reflects the delusion of power and control that the prisoners felt while enduring unimaginable suffering. The assertion of being the "masters of nature" and having transcended death and fatigue illustrates their desperate attempt to assert humanity amid dehumanization. Despite their dire circumstances, they cling to a sense of strength, as if to defy the overwhelming forces against them, such as cold, hunger, and their captors' brutality.
However, Wiesel contrasts this illusion of mastery with the stark reality of their existence, highlighting the profound sense of despair and rootlessness they experienced. The phrase "nothing but numbers" epitomizes their loss of identity, reduced to mere figures in the eyes of their oppressors. This juxtaposition serves to reveal the deep psychological scars inflicted by the Holocaust, showcasing the struggle to maintain dignity and humanity even while facing annihilation.
