In Elie Wiesel’s Night, the term refers to a young boy, often an adolescent, who serves as an assistant to one of the Kapos, or overseers, in the concentration camp. This child held a position of relative power and privilege compared to other prisoners, often receiving better treatment and additional food in exchange for their services. The role, however, was fraught with danger, as their fates were often intertwined with those of their Kapos.
The presence of such a figure in the narrative serves to illustrate the deeply corrupted moral landscape of the concentration camps. It highlights the brutal hierarchy that existed even within the prisoner population and reveals how individuals, including children, were manipulated and exploited within the system. The existence of this figure is a stark reminder of the dehumanization and moral compromises forced upon individuals in the face of unimaginable suffering.
