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Rhetorical Analysis Of The Perils Of Indifference

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Elie Wiesel:
Effectively Delivering a Crucial Message
In his speech, The Perils of Indifference, Elie Wiesel expresses his gratitude for the American soldiers, while addressing mankind’s habitual indifference. He claims that despite the amount of violence happening in our world, “[it] is so much easier to look away from victims. It is so much easier to avoid such rude interruptions to our work, our dreams, our hopes” (Wiesel). Wiesel effectively speaks to his audience using mixed syntax, intelligible diction, and earnest tone that not only pertains to those present, but also can be understood by a wide range of people all over the world. The powerful message about how indifference is damaging our society could not be conveyed in a more exceeding …show more content…

Throughout Wiesel’s speech, he uses a level of syntax that not only helps carry his message, but also intrigues his audience. For example:
What are its courses and inescapable consequences? Is it a philosophy? Is there a philosophy of indifference conceivable? Can one possibly 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? …show more content…

This includes the speaker’s tone. Wiesel speaks with passion and sincerity throughout the speech. When he states, “And now, I stand before you, Mr. President -- Commander-in-Chief of the army that freed me, and tens of thousands of others -- and I am filled with a profound and abiding gratitude to the American people,” he is expressing how genuinely thankful he is for his life (Wiesel). Since Wiesel experienced the Holocaust first-hand, he is able to speak with honest tone. He knows what it was like to be at the concentration camps, which not only highlights his passion for the message he is trying to convey, but it gives him palpable credibility. The speaker's attitude can make or break the effectiveness of a speech. If a speaker’s tone is disinterested and apathetic then the message will never be received because the audience is no longer engaged. Wiesel successfully yields a serious tone, which captivates the audience and enables them to receive the

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