1. Individual vs. Society: Eliezer's sense of faith and humanity clashes with the dehumanizing conditions and values enforced by the Nazi regime. He struggles to maintain his individuality and dignity amidst systemic cruelty.
2. Faith vs. Adversity: Eliezer grapples with the existence and nature of God while witnessing unimaginable suffering and horrors. He questions why a benevolent God would permit such atrocities.
3. Father-Son Relationship: Eliezer's complex relationship with his father is affected by their shared experiences in the camp. They rely on each other for survival, but their bond is also strained by the trauma and their differing responses to it.
4. Loss of Identity: Eliezer gradually loses his identity and sense of self due to the systematic stripping of his possessions, family, and cultural practices. He becomes a mere number and symbol of suffering.
5. Survival Instinct vs. Humanity: The intense struggle to survive pushes Eliezer and other characters to question their moral limits. They make difficult choices between self-preservation and compassion, often leading to moral dilemmas.
6. Good vs. Evil: The book explores the extremes of human behavior, presenting examples of both extreme evil (the Nazis and their actions) and instances of human kindness and nobility (occasional acts of resistance, the kindness of certain individuals, etc.).
7. Memory and Trauma: Eliezer's narration highlights the ongoing psychological and emotional impact of the Holocaust on survivors like himself. The act of writing and remembering becomes a means of confronting the trauma and ensuring that such atrocities are not forgotten.
8. Witnessing vs. Silence: Elie Wiesel's decision to write about his experiences despite the challenges of addressing the horrors of the Holocaust raises questions about the writer's role and responsibility in bearing witness to such events.