Analysis Of Elie Wiesel's The Perils Of Indifference

Holocaust survivor and author of the novel, Night, Elie Wiesel in his speech, “The Perils of Indifference,” claims that indifference is not only a sin, but is an act of dehumanization. He begins to develop his claim by defining the word “indifference”, then enlightens the audience about his personal experiences living through the war. Finally he asks the audience how they will change as they enter a new millennium. Wiesel’s purpose throughout his speech is to convince his audience not to be indifferent to those who were, and are, being treated cruelly and unjust. He creates tones of tranquility, disappointment, abandonment, and happiness in order for his audience to see his perspective during the horrific times of the Holocaust. Wiesel defines the word

In a tone of tranquility, he defines the word with a meaning of, “no difference,” and as something that can be “tempting.”(Wiesel 2) In the forth paragraph, Wiesel asks the audience questions, “Can one view indifference as a virtue? Is it necessary at times to practice it simply to keep one’s sanity, live normally, enjoy a fine meal and a glass of wine, as the world around us experiences harrowing upheavals?,” to engage the audience into the speech. (2) And also for them to think about the word indifference and how people can find being indifferent as moral. Wiesel taps into the audiences emotions by bring up a personal experience about Auschwitz, he explains to the audience that the “Muselmanner” were treated the worst out of everyone, “wrapped in their torn blankets, they would sit or lie…They were dead and did not know it.” (2-3) This quote helps the audience imagine how the Jews and the prisoners of the concentration camps felt. In delivering his speech, Wiesel repeats the word “indifference” to show the importance of the word throughout the essay. In the middle part of speech, Wiesel shifts the tone to complete abandonment with the statement, “They would have spoken out with