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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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American Jewish writer, and political activist Elie Wiesel, in his sympathetic speech “The Perils of Indifference” to send a strong message to the audience. As a survivor of the Holocaust, he supports his claim through his speech explaining the dangers of indifference from first hand experience. Specifically in his speech he refers to himself, “A young Jewish boy [..] woke up in a place of eternal infamy called Buchenwald”(par 1).. In addition, Wiesel use of rhetorical questions is for the audience to question or to think about indifference. Wiesel’s purpose is to warn people about indifference in order to “save” our future.

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Wiesel uses opportune timing to impress the weight of his topic upon his audience and encourage them against staying

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Author, Elie Wiesel in his powerful speech, The Perils of Indifference claims history must not repeat. Wiesel develops his message by emphasizing how many were dehumanized. “They no longer felt pain, hunger or thirst. They feared nothing. They felt nothing.

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Instead, he makes the effort to define the true meaning of indifference. It is necessary for him to define the truth of indifference so that the audience is aware of Wiesel’s perspective on it. His method of explaining is defined as an antithesis. Wiesel states sets of words together that contradict each other; this isn’t meant to confuse the audience but to illustrate a clearer interpretation of what indifference means. “What is indifference?...

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The entire world was so ignorant to such a massacre of horrific events that were right under their noses, so Elie Wiesel persuades and expresses his viewpoint of neutrality to an audience. Wiesel uses the ignorance of the countries during World War II to express the effects of their involvement on the civilians, “And then I explain to him how naive we were, that the world did know and remained silent. And that is why I swore never to be silent when and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation” (Weisel). To persuade the audience, Elie uses facts to make the people become sentimental toward the victims of the Holocaust. Also, when Weisel shares his opinion with the audience, he gains people onto his side because of his authority and good reputation.

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