The Accident: Analysis of Major Characters
"The Accident: Analysis of Major Characters" explores the complex relationships and emotional struggles of key figures in a narrative shaped by trauma and loss. Central to the story is Eliezer, a journalist haunted by his experiences during the Holocaust, which profoundly affect his worldview and relationships. His interactions reveal a deep sense of guilt and detachment, particularly in his tumultuous affair with Kathleen, a confident young woman who embodies hope and the belief in love's power, but remains blind to Eliezer’s anguish.
Eliezer's memories of his grandmother, who represents compassion and safety, starkly contrast with the harsh realities he faces. Dr. Paul Russel, the hospital resident caring for Eliezer, is perceptive yet struggles to grasp the depth of his despair, while Nurse offers a mix of humor and honesty that aids in Eliezer’s recovery. Additionally, Sarah, a former prostitute shaped by her traumatic past, and Gyula, a rebellious painter who challenges Eliezer to confront his despair, further enrich the narrative's exploration of survival, identity, and the search for meaning in the aftermath of suffering. Together, these characters illustrate the intricate interplay between love, loss, and the human condition.
The Accident: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Elie Wiesel
First published: Le Jour, 1961 (English translation, 1962)
Genre: Novel
Locale: New York City
Plot: Psychological realism
Time: The 1950's
Eliezer, the narrator, a journalist of Eastern European birth. After losing his entire family in the Holocaust, Eliezer has immigrated to Paris, then to New York. He is haunted by his past, by the guilt of having survived, and by a deeply felt responsibility to bear witness on behalf of the dead. His mind is flooded with dreams, images, symbols, and memories, especially of his grandmother, whom he loved devotedly. He finds it impossible to live in the present: He is cynical, detached, and inexpressive. When he does speak, it is often in metaphors, philosophical assertions, and enigmas. He has been drawn to Kathleen since the moment they met, but ultimately he pities her faithfulness and her need to be deceived. Similarly, he feels disdain for Dr. Russel's inability to comprehend despair. Eliezer is weary of the suffering of life and longs to encounter death; the accident he survives is an expression of that longing.
Kathleen, a charming young woman who is Eliezer's lover. Kathleen believes strongly in the omnipotence of love. From an affluent background, she is confident and decisive and not accustomed to losing battles. She is blind with illusions about the goodness of the world and cannot fathom Eliezer's obsession with the past. Through their tumultuous and often cruel affair, she learns about suffering. Later, after he has left her, she is spiritually deadened by marriage to a man for whom she feels no passion.
Eliezer's grandmother, an Eastern European woman who was killed in the Holocaust. Eliezer's grandmother lives vividly in his memories and in his basic philosophy of life. She was a simple and pious elderly Jewish woman with soft white skin and an enormous black shawl. She often protected the young Eliezer from his father's temper and always treated him with compassion.
Dr. Paul Russel, the young resident who cares for Eliezer in the hospital after the accident. Russel is wise and perceptive beyond his years, and he sees in Eliezer the depth of an intense spiritual struggle. He is affable and informal at the patient's bedside but not afraid to be direct. Ultimately, his ideals and strong belief in the value of life render him unable to understand Eliezer's anguish.
Nurse, the young woman who assists in Eliezer's care. She is patient and attentive to Eliezer but commands authority when necessary. She is honest with him and responds openly to his moods and challenges. Her humor brings a much-needed lightness to his recuperation.
Sarah, a prostitute with whom Eliezer spent an evening in Paris shortly after his liberation. At the age of twelve, Sarah was forced into prostitution in a Nazi concentration camp. She became the favorite toy of the German officers. She feels shame about her manner of survival and guilt in the knowledge that sometimes she even felt pleasure in such reprehensible sexual encounters. With no pretensions about her moral stature, she is fearless, even proud. She is unpredictable, moody, and, to Eliezer, elusive.
Gyula, a Hungarian painter and friend to Eliezer. Gyula is tall and robust in his build, and rebellious and mocking in his spirit; in all ways, he is a powerful and intimidating figure. He alone understands Eliezer's despair; he alone, arrogant and energetic, is able to inspire the wounded man. Gyula has no patience for sentimentality and suffering: He refuses to hear Eliezer's confession but rather insists on painting a portrait that ultimately helps Eliezer see himself more clearly.