Dawn Character Analysis

Elisha

Elisha is an 18-year-old survivor of the Auschwitz and Buchenwald concentration camps who joins the Movement for an independent Jewish nation in Palestine. Elisha grew up in a devout Hassidic home, studying Cabala (Jewish mysticism)… read analysis of Elisha

Gad

Gad is the compelling young terrorist who recruits Elisha to join the Movement in Palestine and oversees his training there. Gad tracks down Elisha in Paris and claims to know everything about him. Elisha entrusts… read analysis of Gad

John Dawson

John Dawson is a British captain who is kidnapped and sentenced to execution by the Movement in reprisal for the death sentence of David ben Moshe. Dawson is a handsome man in his 40s… read analysis of John Dawson

David ben Moshe

A childhood friend of Gad’s, David ben Moshe is a Jewish freedom fighter who is taken captive and sentenced to death by the British. In retaliation, the Movement kidnaps British captain John Dawson and… read analysis of David ben Moshe

The Beggar

The beggar is a mysterious figure whom Elisha first met when he was 12 years old. The shabbily dressed, gaunt beggar had an otherworldly look in his eyes. The mysterious beggar taught young Elisha… read analysis of The Beggar

The Old Man

The Old Man is the anonymous leader of the Movement. Though Elisha doesn’t know the Old Man’s identity, he believes he met him during training camp, as Elisha worked with a masked instructor who had… read analysis of The Old Man

The Grizzled Master

The grizzled master is Elisha’s childhood Cabala (Jewish mysticism) teacher. Elisha looked up to the master as a mentor and guide; he was especially influenced by the Master’s teaching on the sixth commandment—that it’s… read analysis of The Grizzled Master

Ilana

Ilana is Gad’s girlfriend and also the “Voice of Freedom” who broadcasts on the Movement’s behalf each night in Palestine. Except for Gad, Elisha, and a few others, nobody else knows the identity… read analysis of Ilana

Catherine

Catherine was a delicate blonde woman in her late 20s whom Elisha met in France after World War II. She was the first woman Elisha got to know up close, outside of his family. She… read analysis of Catherine

The Little Boy

The little boy is the ghost of Elisha’s younger self as he was before the war began. He appears the night before Dawson’s execution and is the only one of the ghosts who… read analysis of The Little Boy

Yerachmiel

Yerachmiel is a childhood friend of Elisha’s. They studied Cabala (Jewish mysticism together under the grizzled master and prayed and fasted fervently in hopes of bringing the Messiah. The two were separated at the… read analysis of Yerachmiel

Minor Characters

Gideon

Gideon is a Movement fighter and one of Ilana’s bodyguards. He is nicknamed “the Saint” because he is devoutly religious and prays almost constantly.

Joab

Joab is a Movement fighter and one of Ilana’s bodyguards. He is a young man with an innocent-looking face and white hair. Joab is nicknamed “the Madman” because he fled interrogation by pretending to be insane.

Elisha’s Father

The ghost of Elisha’s father appears the night before the execution of Dawson, but he remains silent.

Elisha’s Mother

The ghost of Elisha’s mother appears the night before the execution of Dawson. She says “Poor little boy!” over and over again, though it’s not entirely clear if she’s referring to Elisha or Dawson.

Stefan

Stefan is a sculptor and member of the German resistance whom Elisha met in Buchenwald. When Stefan refused to give up the names of other resistance members, his fingers were cut off by a Gestapo chief.

Dawn

Elie Wiesel

Dawn Characters