Kristina Ellis

Mrs. Mikel
ELA 9H Period 8
11 November 2014
Rhetorical Analysis
Elie Wiesel stood in front of the groups of importance and told his story.
Filled with gratitude he was striving to make a difference. As the crowd sat in
silence, curious to know of what the man might say, he began. In writing The
Perils of Indifference speech Elie Wiesel was successful in his approach to share
his views of indifference. He was speaking on the 12th of April 1999 in
Washington D.C. for the Millennium Lecture Series. Which were hosted by
President Bill Clinton and his wife, Hilary. Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor was
telling of his experience hoping to influence his audience while sharing some of
the terrible things which had happened with his first hand experience. He was
also showing of his gratitude to the United States to whom had rescued him from
that foul place.
First of all, in the speech Elie Weisel represented ethos correctly by, being
fair minded. For example, when2 he is talking about the failure of humanity he
mentions many things that have happened all over the world two World Wars,
countless civil wars, the senseless chain of assassinations (Gandhi, the
Kennedys, Martin Luther King, Sadat, Rabin), bloodbaths in Cambodia and
Algeria, India and Pakistan, Ireland and Rwanda, Eritrea and Ethiopia, Sarajevo
and Kosovo. He also represented credibility when he said Mr. President, Mrs.

Clinton, member of Congress, Ambassador Holbrooke, Excellencies in telling of

his audience in which are very important figures he illustrated his credibility. Just
by Mr. Weisel speaking where he is he has shown that he is credible. Therefore,
Elie Wiesel has satisfyingly used ethos in his speech.
Second of all, Elie Wiesel used pathos well in the speech. By, saying
indifferent to that suffering is what makes the human being inhuman The word
suffering is a feeling of despair, an emotion we all know how to describe even if
we havent felt it ourselves. Along with, the use of the words victims,
depressing, and wars. Someone being referred to as a victim means that
that person that has been put through some type of destruction or extensive pain
referred to as agony. Ergo, he used pathos flourishingly in writing The Perils of
Indifference.
Third of all, in the speech logos was represented correctly. For example, in
saying What is indifference? Etymologically, the word means no difference. in
defining the word he used logic. Furthermore, when he states Franklin Delano
Roosevelt died on April the 12th, 1945 and He mobilized the American people
and the world, going into battle, bringing hundreds and thousands of valiant
soldiers in America to fight fascism, to fight dictatorship, to fight Hitler those
being fact which also was logic. Hence, Elie Wiesel used logos effectively in his
speech The Perils of Indifference.
In conclusion, Elie Wiesel was successful in his approach to share his opinion on
indifference. He also correctly represented ethos, pathos, and logos throughout the
speech. In addition, in mentioning past events which are considered tragedies in hoping

to influence the world in hopes of a better future. Through Elie Wiesels unfortunate
experience we can see light for the future from those who are willing to allow us to learn
from previous mistakes.