ipl-logo

Rhetorical Analysis Of The Perils Of Indifference

898 Words4 Pages

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

Show More
Related

  • Elie Wiesel's The Perils Of Indifference

    609 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Emotional Effect of Elie Wiesel’s, The Perils of Indifference In Elie Wiesel’s heart-wrenching speech, the Perils of Indifference, he uses various rhetorical appeals to explain his point to the audience. He shares his personal experience of the Holocaust and what happened to those around him to show that indifference, albeit comfortable, is the reason the jews suffered so much for so long. Political officials, acquaintances, and any of the others who bore witness to his speech were able to empathize and understand Wiesel through his use of ethos, pathos, and logos.

    Read More

  • 'The Perils Of Indifference' By Elie Wiesel

    1129 Words  | 5 Pages

    Wiesel pinpoints the indifference of humans as the real enemy, causing further suffering and lost to those already in peril. Wiesel commenced the speech with an interesting attention getter: a story about a young Jewish from a small town that was at the end of war liberated from Nazi rule by American soldiers. This young boy was in fact himself. The first-hand experience of cruelty gave him credibility in discussing the dangers of indifference; he was a victim himself.

    Read More

  • Summary Of Elie Wiesel's Perils Of Indifference

    2022 Words  | 9 Pages

    Holocaust survivor, Elie Wiesel, in his speech, “Perils of Indifference,” argues that indifference is a dehumanizing weapon that America is guilty of practicing. He develops this assertion by first building his credibility to gain the audience’s trust, then defines the true meaning of indifference and America’s fondness of it, and finally moves the audience to action by providing a new way of thinking. Wiesel’s purpose is to motivate his audience to reflect on their past so that the same mistakes against humanity will not be repeated. He creates a critical tone to show the citizens of the United States that their attitudes towards indifference must change or the world of suffering never will. The beginning of Wiesel’s speech is based mainly

    Read More

  • Lessons Learned In The Book Night By Elie Wiesel

    651 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the article “Meet Elie Wiesel” includes his quote, “look, it’s important to bear witness. Important to tell your story... you cannot imagine what it meant spending a night of death among death”. The quote shows Wiesel’s acknowledgement of others around the world not experiencing what he has and making sure to speak out for one’s self. In addition in Wiesel’s Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, he states, “When human lives are endangered , when human dignity is in jeopardy national borders, and sensitivities become irrelevant”(118).The speech makes the point of citizens throughout the world caring for everyone else even if it does not directly impact tem or their daily life. Wiesel continues to advocate for people around the world due to his

    Read More

  • Summary Of Elie Wiesel's The Perils Of Indifference

    512 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Elie Wiesel's Acceptance Speech For The Nobel Peace Prize

    612 Words  | 3 Pages

    Doing this helps him reach his goal because every human deserves his or her rights, and the audience knows that. Wiesel follows this fact with another one that is just as surprising, "More people are oppressed than free." This alarming statement shows that no one is safe from oppression, furthering his influence on the

    Read More

  • Is Elie Wiesel's Speech Analysis: The Perils Of Indifference

    1065 Words  | 5 Pages

    Indifference is not a response. Indifference is not a beginning; it is an end. And, therefore, indifference is always the friend of the enemy, for it benefits the aggressor -- never his victim” Wiesel also repeats other words throughout his speech as in a previous part of his speech, he repeats the word “God” as he talks about how it is always worse for someone to be ignored by God than to be punished by God. Wiesel uses repetition to complement his use of allusion and imagery.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Elie Wiesel

    1075 Words  | 5 Pages

    A speaker is not credible if they attempt to make listeners feel pity for them, because the audience will view him in a degrading way. Similar to this, Wiesel is humble. He does not speak of his Nobel Peace Prize, and is emphasizing the importance of the future instead of the past in hopes of moving forward in the future. This increases Wiesel’s credibility because he is not bragging or exaggerating his words, and he has experienced this issue first hand, which allows the audience to trust Wiesel and believe his stance on the

    Read More

  • Elie Wiesel: Holocaust Survivor

    140 Words  | 1 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Summary Of The Perils Of Indifference

    670 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Elie Wiesel's Speech

    552 Words  | 3 Pages

    Wiesel’s use of ethos, pathos, logos, diction, and allusion certainly gives the audience information and emotions he was hoping

    Read More

  • Critical Evaluation Essay: The Perils Of Indifference

    855 Words  | 4 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Devices In Elie Wiesel's Speech

    806 Words  | 4 Pages

    Wiesel’s speech shows how he worked to keep the memory of those people alive because he knows that people will continue to be guilty, to be accomplices if they forget. Furthermore, Wiesel knows that keeping the memory of those poor, innocent will avoid the repetition of the atrocity done in the future. The stories and experiences of Wiesel allowed for people to see the true horrors of what occurs when people who keep silence become “accomplices” of those who inflict pain towards humans. To conclude, Wiesel chose to use parallelism in his speech to emphasize the fault people had for keeping silence and allowing the torture of innocent

    Read More

  • Elie Wiesel Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech Analysis

    609 Words  | 3 Pages

    In his 1986 Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, Elie Wiesel strives to inform his audience of the unbelievable atrocities of the Holocaust in order to prevent them from ever again responding to inhumanity and injustice with silence and neutrality. The structure or organization of Wiesel’s speech, his skillful use of the rhetorical appeals of pathos and ethos, combined with powerful rhetorical devices leads his audience to understand that they must never choose silence when they witness injustice. To do so supports the oppressors. Wiesel’s speech is tightly organized and moves the ideas forward effectively. Wiesel begins with humility, stating that he does not have the right to speak for the dead, introducing the framework of his words.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Night By Elie Wiesel

    439 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

More about Rhetorical Analysis Of The Perils Of Indifference

Open Document