Elie changes a lot throughout the book, but mainly inside his religious viewpoints and beliefs. In the beginning of the book, Elie is deeply studious in his religion. In fact, the first 5 pages of the book is just about finding himself a mentor to teach him Talmud, and to mentor him throughout his walk with God. On page 3, Elie says, "I was almost thirteen and deeply observant. By day I studied Talmud and by night I would run to the synagogue to weep over the destruction of the Temple." Elie was very dependent on God and trusted God deeply. He was deeply rooted into his studies of Talmud, and had a strong faith.
This is completely different to when he was entered into the concentration camp. In bad situations, we sometimes question God, but Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us: "trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths." This means that even in the hard times, we still need to trust in God because he will direct us into the right paths. Unfortunately, Elie decided to rebel against God and question why he would, "...sanctify His name..." and "...thank Him." Elie is so angry with God and in my personal opinion confused, that he even goes as far to say, "never shall I forget those moments that murdered my God and my soul and turned my dreams to ashes." I feel that he is confused with what is going on because he even says inside the interview with Oprah: none of the Jews had even heard of Auschwitz before they landed spots and positions in the notorious and infamous death factory.
Elie's personality towards his father changes as well in the middle and end of the book. In the middle of the book, his dad was his survival, his hope. Elie really shows loyalty to his father on page 99. Elie and the Jews were riding in a cattle car to another camp, when he notices his dad is dead-like. He begins to tap on his father, trying to awaken him when they begin to throw the corpse out the car. When they try to throw his father out. Elie decides to beat his dad, trying to wake him up in order for him to stay alive. This shows that Elie was not ready to give up his dad and was still having hope the two can survive together. Another time Elie shows worry/loyalty towards his dad is when Elie says on page 91, "a prayer to this God in whom I no longer believed. 'Oh God, Master of the Universe, give me the strength never to do what Rabbi Eliahu's son has done." This shows not only his loyalty and fear of abandoning his dad, but also his true relationship to God. Even though Elie believes that God, is basically dead, he still has little faith in him. But what's the saying? "Faith the size of a muster seed can move the mountain..."
However, towards the end of the book, his view on his sick and dying father begin to change. After the Blockälteste tells Elie that there is nothing the doctor can do for his father anymore, he begins to tell Elie how he should begin taking his father's rations. Elie begins listening to his entire lecture, and begins thinking deep down to himself that he could have a higher chance of surviving because he would have two rations of bread and soup. Elie says, "He was right, I thought deep down, not daring to admit it to myself. Too late to save your old father...You could have two rations of bread, two rations of soup..." Although this is only for a split second, Elie still thinks survival instinct; every man for himself.
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