The Perils of Indifference Analysis

Begley 1
Leah Begley
Mrs. Gonet
Sinclair Comp 1101
20 April 2021
The Grim Reality of Disdain
When one does not actively try to change something, it means that they agree with a
situation, while when one does try to change something, it means that they disagree with the
situation. The separation comes when a person sees something which creates destruction for
someone else and refuses to acknowledge the presence of said problem. On April 12, 1999, a
Holocaust surviver gave a speech in the Millennium Lecture series to explain how this problem
has directly affected his life. In Elie Wiesel’s speech, “The Perils of Indifference,” he uses logos,
pathos, ethos, as well as several other rhetorical devices to effectively explain how an indifferent
person can make a problem worse rather than correct it.
Wiesel uses logos while he addresses the American people. While speaking about
treacherous times in history, he mentions the assassinations of “Gandhi, the Kennedys, Martin
Luther King, Sudat, [and] Rabin,” (par. 5). He makes these allusions primarily to pull the
listeners in to hear the horrors that happened in our history. This list also uses ethos because it
refers to major authority figures in our history. It shows that things continue to happen as long as
no one puts a stop to them. Later, while speaking about indifference, he states that
“etymologically, the word means “no difference,”” (par. 6). This literal, direct statement of
information challenges the rest of the speech, as it appeals more to fact instead of emotion like
the majority of the address. It makes the listener understand that he wants them to realize that
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indifference does not evoke a response out of people. While he uses logos many times, he
appeals to the emotions of his listeners far more.
Elie Weisel uses pathos, an appeal to emotion, to further institute the idea that
indifference can tear down a society. He says that when someone acts indifferent to someone
else’s problems, “their lives [become] meaningless,” (par. 8). The negative connotation of
“meaningless” saddens the listener because no one wants to feel insignificant. This enforces his
idea that indifference can create bigger problems through making the listener identify with the
person feeling made worthless. Later, he talks about the “depressing tale of the St. Louis,” (par.
19). His choice of wording this tragedy shows the listener how he feels about it, evoking that
same feeling in them. This catastrophe shows the audience the horrors of what happens when one
acts indifferent to a situation. After logos and pathos comes ethos.
Elie Weisel has an abundance of ethos as an orator and as a person. As he describes in
this speech, the indifferent people around during the time of the Holocaust contributed to his
suffering as a boy. He explains the horrors he saw first hand and builds his credibility through
referencing his past experiences. He knows the detrimental effects of indifference because he
witnessed them firsthand as a victim of it himself. He builds the trust of his listeners through
referring to his peers and authorities as equals and respecting people even though they did things
he does not agree with. His audience of Americans, hopeful for the future, listens as he explains
the downfalls of indifference.
Even more rhetorical devices include parallel structure, anaphora, and asyndeton. He says
that “So much violence, so much indifference,” while talking about the genocide at Auschuwitz
(par. 6). This repetition of grammatical form increases the likelihood that a listener understands
the horrors described and applies them to their life by addressing the problems they see. Later,
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while talking about hatred, Weasel says “You fight it. You denounce it. You disarm it” (par. 11).
The use of a specific type of repetition, anaphora, helps to emphasize the idea that indifference
does not help a situation and makes his speech more memorable to his audience. Finally, as he
brings up forgotten people, he mentions “the political prisoner in his cell the hungry children, the
homeless refugees,” (par. 12). The omission of conjunctions in this sentence adds a dramatic
effect to his words and emphasizes the gravity of the situation at hand-- not recognizing the
struggles of people around the world.
These rhetorical devices and appeals influence the listener to believe and agree with what
Elie Weisel says in “The Perils of Indifference.” The use of ethos, pathos, logos, and rhetorical
devices helps to enforce his beliefs and purpose of this speech. People see the horrors of others
and look over them because the problems serve as an inconvenience and annoyance to them.
Sometimes it seems easier to ignore a problem rather than to exterminate it, but in order to keep
their humanity, a person must resist that urge.

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Work Cited
Weisel, Elie. “The Perils of Indifference.” Millennium Lecture Series, 12 April 1999, White
House, Washington, D.C.. Keynote Address. Historyplace.com.
http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/wiesel.htm. Accessed 16 April 2021.

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What rhetorical devices does Wiesel use in his speech and why?

How does Wiesel build his credibility/ethos as a speaker?

Begley 1

Sinclair Comp 1101

The Grim Reality of Disdain

person can make a problem worse rather than correct it.

appeals to the emotions of his listeners far more.

acts indifferent to a situation. After logos and pathos comes ethos.

Elie Weisel has an abundance of ethos as an orator and as a person. As he describes in

the downfalls of indifference.

struggles of people around the world.

their humanity, a person must resist that urge.

House, Washington, D.C.. Keynote Address. Historyplace.com.

http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/wiesel.htm. Accessed 16 April 2021.

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