The story of Dawn is a provocative first hand look into the world of terrorism, through the eyes of an eighteen year old man, Elisha. Previously, having survived hell in the Holocaust, Elisha now finds himself as a freshly recruited Terrorist in the holy land of Palestine. However, Elisha finds that being a terrorist is not all fun and games. Elisha is given the orders, that at dawn of the next morning he will have to execute a military captive, John Dawson. The author of this definitive story, Elie Wiesel, gives us a first-class look into the mind of a young man teetering on the edge of insanity, as a result of a murderess obligation. It is through this that Weisel presents us with basic questions of morality, and one may argue that Wiesel presents us with a warning.
The First question which we are presented is one of war.
Jewish slave laborers in the Buchenwald concentrat...
Gad Forum-107
Gad Forum-122There are many instances throughout Dawn where the transgressions of the terrorists are justified by themselves as being an act of war. On one such occasion we read of a situation where Elisha is wrestling with the fact that he must execute an unarmed hostage the following morning. His recruiter and friend, Gad, states: "Don't torture yourself, Elisha, this is war." (147). In yet another instance we witness another such statement. However, this time it is being told to Gad. Gad is feeling sorrow over the loss of his dear friend David ben Moche. Another friend, and fellow terrorist, Ilana approaches Gad to comfort him. She states, "Don't torture yourself, Gad. This is war" (151). In both of these instances we see the members of this terrorist cell justifying their actions, and their opponents for the matter, as being a mere act of war. Thus, this leads...