Before his death, Juliek, a former member of the Buna band, plays the violin. His music is contrary to people’s minds, which were imprisoned in the barracks. They became egoistic, thinking about themselves and their physical needs. Juliek plays the violin as a demonstration to remind the captives to remember their humankind and giving them trust.
Detailed answer:
Juliek is a secondary character in Night, whose story leaves a heavy feeling on the reader. He is a youngster from Warsaw who was one of the members of the Buna band. There, he met Elie for the first time. Then, the Nazis transported him and Elie to the camp. At the point when they reached Gleiwitz, the forces moved them into dark barracks. People were choking each other as there was not enough space in the rooms. As there were many bodies, it was hard to distinguish which of the people were alive.
At the barrack, Elie realized the Buna band’s cellist was lying beneath him. Wiesel was glad to find that the boy was still breathing. Juliek brought his violin with him, and he feared damaging it in that situation. The men on top were crushing the weaker captives who were under them. In the airless room, they needed to battle to get some air and survive.
That evening, Juliek marvelously removed himself from the heavy laying bodies and surprisingly started to play Beethoven. The music was unadulterated in the midst of the quiet evening. Juliek put his entire self and last strength into his playing. It was heard by a crowd of men in suffering. The musician tragically died right after this performance. Juliek’s last minutes in a room full of dying people is the most emotional scene in the whole writing.
The writer pays special attention to the silence and the endless length of the nights in the barracks. However, this quietness is the source of fear, bad dreams, and edgy weariness. Juliek’s playing disturbed it, filling the night with uncommon excellence and power. He played a section from Beethoven’s concerto. The sounds of the instrument were pure and calming, contrary to the men’s state in Gleiwitz. As a result, silence and the music which broke it have a special meaning in writing.
The victims of German powers started to deny their life, humanity, and the future. Likewise, Juliek’s began to lose his sensations and spirituality during the time in the death camp. Nevertheless, he was able to take all his pain and strength and pour it into his music. In this manner, his performance evoked the souls of those who were still alive in the bloody airless crematory. It underlined how roughly, and uncouthly the Nazis obliterated the human existence of Jews in the concentration camps.
This character plays a significant role in illustrating people’s emotional transformation due to the hostile act of the German army. The dispirited young boy transmitted several important themes of the story. The scene raised topics such as the nature of humanity, cruelty, desolation, and a light of hope. Juliek’s music was emotionally touching and grievous on the grounds that he put his entire being into his playing.