Eli Wiesel tells us in an interview that he wrote Night partly to speak for the dead, and for the survivors who could not speak of the atrocities. He told the story of his survival experience with a sharp honesty that would help those of the future also have an accurate representation.
He witnessed and experienced some of the harshest experiences possible for a child of his age, and although the writing is from the memories of an adult author, the voice is still strikingly innocent. In this way, Wiesel communicates the memories of those who shared his experience.
His observations, descriptions of the struggles of those around him, and description of the actions of Nazi soldiers and guards all work together to document historic events, preserve the memories of himself and those around him, and serve as a warning to future generations about the harsh reality of genocide.
He did not seek to be seen as a hero, or martyr of any sort. Rather, he wrote to preserve the truth, speak for a generation, and give the future something to consider.
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