Final answer:
The relationship between Rabbi Eliahu and his son mirrors that of Elie Wiesel and his father in the novel Night. It highlights the impediments families faced during the Holocaust and shows the traumatic choices people were forced to make. The contrasting reactions of the sons illustrate the author's own experiences and emphasize the importance of familial bonds.
Step-by-step explanation:
The relationship between Rabbi Eliahu and his son in the novel Night by Elie Wiesel is important as it serves as a parallel to the relationship between the protagonist, Elie, and his own father. Both relationships are strained under the stress of the Holocaust but the reactions of the sons in each relationship differ. Elie chooses to stay loyal to his father despite the circumstances while Rabbi Eliahu's son abandons his father in order to survive. These two contrasting attitudes present a stark picture of the difficult choices people had to make in these dire situations. It offers a glimpse into Wiesel's own trials during the Holocaust and underscores the importance of familial bonds in times of extreme hardship.
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