I think Elie's father and Elie's relationship was very unselfish. They protected each other, while everyone was for there self. They desperately try to sty together through the whole experience. In the beginning his father is respected jewish community leader and shopkepper. Then as the story goes on his father continues on very weakly. He gets beaten frequently, and is very quiet towards Elie.Elie cares and helps him as much as possible. People around them laugh and mock Elie for helping him.The most bitter scene is when is father gives him a knife and a spoon. Elie feels sick about him. His father keeps getting weak and sicker. Elie helped his father, and his father helped him. But when his father was calling him and elie didnt come. His father dependented on elie so much. He needs Elie. He loves him. He loves his presence