"night" study guide question: why do both eliezer and his father pretend to believe that the rest of their family are still alive in some other camp?

They pretend to believe the rest of their family are still alive because it gives them a reason to live. Throughout their imprisonment, Eliezer says his reason for surviving the atrocities is his father. When his father dies, he almost completely gives up, but is liberated. This hope is shown by other Jews in the camp. Many are searching for word of loved ones who might have escaped and survived in hopes that that they have survived.