Jeserey Sanchez

Mr. Soeth

Eng 3 AP

Feb. 2, 2011


History REHUGO: Analysis of Elie Wiesel’s Speech “The Perils of Indifference”

A. Speech: “The Perils of Indifference” – By, Elie Wiesel

B. Elie Wiesel is one of the many Jews who had luckily survived through the Holocaust, and he gives his points of view of what took place then. The horrors, fears, anxieties it took upon them all. He describes and tells the feelings that were hidden inside the concentration camps, yet connecting the to other situations not quite as horrifying, but classifies them as “So much violence, so much indifference.” Which he later on elaborates on. Wiesel delivers his speech in front of President Clinton, Mrs. Clinton, members of Congress, Ambassador Holbrooke, and other guests who had attended Millennium Lecture Series.

C. Wiesel’s speech is relevant to todays society because up until now we still face struggles on indifference. We still are close- minded to the millions of families in America who are homeless and hungry. We pass by people asking for spare change, and we can’t even give them that. But, we are willing to give are all to people and other countries that need our help, yet we can’t even help ourselves first. Is it really us helping them out of the kindest of our hearts, or just the matter of saying, we were the ones to help you in your time of need, almost as if its favor that in the near future should be returned.

D. Rhetorical Strategies:

Definition: The word indifference is used throughout Wiesel’s essay. It is defined in multiple aspects. But, he first defines it as, “What is indifference? Etymologically, the word means ‘no difference.’” In a way for his audience to fully understand what he later on discusses in his speech, they have to grasp the full concept of what he means by ‘indifference’. Wiesel conveys indifference with a negative connotation through diction, such as “indifference can be tempting -- more than that, seductive.” He gives the definition of indifference, but throughout his speech he changes it up and gives his meaning of what indifference is, drilling it into our minds and changing our perception of the word, to help get his point across.

b.Rhetorical Questions: Wiesel uses rhetorical questioning throughout his speech. Leaving Americans with the guilt of not lending a helping hand to the Jews when they needed it the most. They saw America as a land of opportunity, a place that they knew that wouldn’t turn them away. “A thousand people -- in America, the great country, the greatest democracy, the most generous of all new nations in modern history. What happened? I don't understand. Why the indifference, on the highest level, to the suffering of the victims?” He doesn’t only favor that the Holocaust was the one and only hardship, and states multiple situations. “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?” Throws out different questions such as these. How can we just turn people away, how can we just relax, while half the world is struggling to live for survival.

MLA Citation:
MLA Citation for Speech:
Wiesel, Elie. "The Perils of Indifference." White House, Washington, D.C. 12 Apr.
1999. Speech.