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Perils Of Indifference By Elie Wiesel And Catherine A. Sanderson

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Indifferent is periodically a term used to describe a negative trait within a character. The lack of interest, lack of care, leads to aloofness, a person with no sympathy. In the passages, Elie Wiesel and Catherine A. Sanderson both discuss the negatives of being indifferent. Elie Wiesel from source 1: The Perils of Indifference, speaks more on the pessimistic side of indifference. While Sanderson speaks also on “Moral Rebels” and how to become one. In the writings from Elie Wiesel and Catherine Sanderson, they both argue that indifference is an objectively negative trait to have. Since it dehumanizes others, and is connected with conforming to a crowd. These arguments use rhetorical devices, pathos and logos which work to challenge the readers …show more content…

In source 1 Wiesel uses pathos by adding emotions known as loaded language. A term coined to mean the usage of heavy emotional language to impact the reader on a more personal level. An example the reader can see in the passage is in the following quote; "In a way, to be indifferent to that suffering is what makes the human being inhuman. Indifference, after all, is more dangerous than anger and hatred." -Elie Wiesel (source 1). Words like “suffering” and “dangerous” evoke dramatic emotion in the reader by using heavy hitting words. By using pathos Wiesel is able to get across their message. That being aloof to others suffering, is in return dehumanizing not only to the un-empathetic person but also the one suffering. In order to be indifferent about suffering, one has to view the other as an object in order to ignore that pain. Wiesel continues the notion by saying “it is so much easier to look away from victims” But why would intentionally ignoring corruption be the easier …show more content…

Sanderson challenges the reader by discussing the negatives of being indifferent, then offering a solution. This is evident by their writings. Wiesel focuses solely on the word indifference, comparing it to ideas like dehumanization, calling it a “sin.” This piece of writing challenges the reader to rethink their perspective on the word, and how it affects other people. Sanderson on the other hand, who discusses moral rebels in her piece. Brings up the point that anyone can learn to be a moral rebel, with practice. This piece challenges the readers by telling others they can become moral rebels too, and learn to combat

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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, and finally 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 unjustly. He creates tones of guardedness , disappointment, abandonment, and hopefulness in order for his audience to see his perspective during the horrific times of the war.

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Elie Wiesel maintains a strong desire to spread awareness and create a small pool of guilt for the bystanders. Although the majority of bystanders didn’t wish pain upon the Jews, they chose to do nothing, standing on the sidelines while innocent people died. Elie emphasizes his opinion by repeating a word that has a great impact. “Indifference” is a strong word that expresses a heavy connotation. The word itself means no difference but is used negatively, ironically creating a bigger difference between people.

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(Wiesel 445). I believe this is the thesis because the author repeats the word indifference a lot, he even decides to explain what the word means; ? Etymologically, the word means ? no difference?-a strange and unnatural state in which the lines blur between the light and darkness(?) good and evil? (Wiesel 444).

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By using rhetorical questions Wiesel subtly convinces the audience to care more about how their indifference will affect the upcoming generations. Elie Wiesel also uses repetition right through his speech. He repeats the word “indifference” meaning the lack of interest, concern, or sympathy. He tells his audience that he knows indifference is the easiest option but that indifference leads to suffering in all forms. Through repetition, he persuades his audience that indifference is the reason for many tragedies from the Holocaust to assassinations.

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Lack of concern, lack of interest, lack of sympathy. These are all ways to describe indifference and none of them are good. Elie Wiesel made sure America knew that this is how they acted when the Jews were in desperate need of help. In the speech The Perils of Indifference Elie Wiesel uses hypophora, juxtaposition, and paradox to effectively elicit the guilt that should come from being indifferent. With hypophora, Elie is able to highlight the wrong doings that could have been avoided.

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Both Lars Eighner and Frederick Douglass explore the theme of indifference in their novels, the text reveals that how indifference can affect one’s mind and perspective because of what they have been through leading to the loss of interest in life also the fear of being forgotten as memories for the future generation. Indifference affect how the brain works due the extinguishing desire of accomplishing anything beneficial or the carelessness of something you sought to be precious to you. In the book Night, Elie states that, “Oh God, Master of the Universe, give me the strength never to do what Rabbi Eliahu’s son has done”( Wiesel,91), demonstrating that in the face of adversities despite being blood relatives they care about their own survival more than anything else presenting the effect of indifference where carelessness appear even within your own family. It is like as if Eliahu’s son have forgotten about his memories before the Holocaust, and how valuable his parents are.

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2246 Words | 9 Pages

In the speech titled "Perils of Indifference," Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor and Nobel Laureate, emphasizes the dangers of indifference in the face of injustice and suffering. Wiesel starts by sharing his personal experience in the Nazi concentration camps, highlighting the dehumanization and brutal treatment he and others endured. He uses these examples to illustrate how indifference, or a lack of concern, can allow atrocities to persist. Wiesel stresses the importance of empathy, compassion, and taking action to prevent similar situations from happening again. In doing so, he aims to inspire listeners to confront indifference and work towards a more just world.

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Wiesel emphasizes the problem of apathy using pathos and ethos to make his case. Elie Wiesel achieves this in a number of ways by putting the audience and himself on an equal footing, and because of his earlier success, he has credibility even before he starts talking about the idea of indifference. Elie Wiesel urges his audience to take action to fight the indifference in society and between nations. This speech attempts to educate listeners on the speaker's viewpoint on indifference and how societies respond to disasters.audience in his shoes and the shoes of others who have suffered as a result of indifference. Elie Wiesel's life has been marred by tragedy.

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When the young boy asks, “Who would allow such crimes to be committed? How could the world remain silent”, (paragraph 5) again the audience is prompted to emotionally respond. They have to realize that it was all of them, all of us, who remained silent and that this silence must never happen again. Wiesel demonstrates a strong use of pathos throughout his speech to encourage his audience to commit to never sitting silently by while any human beings are being treated

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In conclusion, Elie Wiesel is a Holocaust survivor that delivers his effective speech on effects of indifference and makes sure the audience is aware coming into this new century. He uses facts from his history multiple time to back up his purpose. Furthermore, he leaves the audience with sympathy due to his history, but his ambition was to act as an admonition towards all the American people; that we should not only focus on what’s affecting our nation but to look over those who are on the verge of suffering. Not to mention that Wiesel’s message can be reflected as a reminder for today’s generation to prevent history from repeating.

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The general statement made by Elie Wiesel in his speech, The Perils of Indifference, is that indifference is sinful. More specifically, Wiesel argues that awareness needs to be brought that indifference is dangerous. He writes “Indifference is not a beginning, it is an end”. In this speech, Wiesel is suggesting that indifference is dangerous it can bring the end to many lives. In conclusion Wiesel's belief is suggesting that indifference is an end, it needs to be noticed and taken care of.

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Elie Wiesel’s somber speech, “The Perils of Indifference”, demonstrated the harsh reality of the numerous evils harvesting in the world. The main evil though was simply indifference, or a lack of concern. As a young Jewish boy, he faced the wickedness of the Holocaust, imprisoned at Buchenwald and Auschwitz and also losing both his parents and younger sister. The speaker saw atrocious horrors and suffered for a prolonged amount of time. Why was this permitted?

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Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, has devoted his life to informing others about the violence that is inflicted and then transforms into indifference. In his millennium talk on "The Perils of Indifference" on April 2, 1999, Elie Wiesel outlines the injustices that people experience and implores the audience to become activists and never to turn a blind eye to the suffering of others. Such a strong message, a cry for humanity. He correctly recognized this as an idea worthy of this particular stage on this particular day—a call for people to recognize the allure of indifference and rage against apathy.

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In the speech, titled “The Perils of Indifference,” Elie Wiesel showed gratitude to the American people, President Clinton, and Mrs. Hillary Clinton for the help they brought and apprised the audience about the violent consequences and human suffering due to indifference against humanity (Wiesel). This speech was persuasive. It was also effective because it conveyed to the audience the understanding of

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Indifference is destructive and inhumane Indifference is defined by Elie Wiesel as lacking empathy or keeping silent while there is discrimination (Anthony, n.d.). He continues to say that indifference is a friend of the enemy because it benefits the aggressor and then disfavors the victims as they feel forgotten. There are two seemingly different speeches, one by Elie Wiesel a survivor of the Holocaust and another by Susan. B Anthony who spoke for women’s right, straight out a theme that the attitude of indifference is destructive and inhumane.

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