Critical Assessment: Elie Wiesel's 'Perils of Indifference' Speech

This paper offers a critical evaluation of Elie Wiesel's speech, 'The Perils of Indifference,' delivered on April 12, 1999, during the Millennium Lecture Series. The essay examines the speech's context, particularly its relation to the Kosovo conflict, and analyzes its rhetorical appeals, including the use of narrative elements such as the narrator, character, plot, and setting. The paper discusses how Wiesel, drawing on his experience as a Holocaust survivor, uses these elements to convey the dangers of indifference and influence his audience. The analysis highlights how the narrative structure effectively communicates the core message of the speech, emphasizing the significance of remembering the past and preventing future atrocities.

Running Head: CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE PERILS OF INDIFFERENCE
CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE PERILS OF INDIFFERENCE
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE PERILS OF INDIFFERENCE
Introduction:
This paper is a critical evaluation of “The Perils of Indifference” in the light of several
sections which discuss the rhetorical appeals of the situation and the analysis of the speech
that intended to unravel the significance.
Discussion:
Elie Weisel gave the speech on April 12, 1999 to make that a part of the Millennium
Lecture Series, hosted by the President Bill Clinton and the first lady Hilary Clinton.
The speech was critically in context to the Kosovo conflict that Weisel felt the
indifference can make the situation worse than the past. To develop the analytical approach
of the writing and content of the narrative, several elements are considered as the narrator,
character, plot and setting to remember that all the elements of the narrative flow well and
are interconnected (Krampe 2017).
The opening paragraph of the speech narrates a story of a boy, who is liberated by
American troops and still not free from his past. Weisel speaks in the speech as if he is the
young boy. The plot of the speech tells the larger audience, the nation may be even the world,
as he wants everyone to see the story of the conflict (Selenica 2018).
The narrative depicts the rhetoric appeal to influence people with the story of
holocaust and the problems in the world. Weisel is a great narrator in his plot and narrative
setting of the story thus the rhetoric appeal of the narrative speaks of the core to the subject.
Conclusion:
This paper briefly discusses the rhetorical appeal of the speech, Weisel wrote. The
discussion analyses about the plot, narrator, character and setting of the story to
demonstrate the vision of the speech.

2CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE PERILS OF INDIFFERENCE
References:
Krampe, F., 2017. Water for peace? Post-conflict water resource management in Kosovo.
Cooperation and Conflict, 52(2), pp.147-165.
Selenica, E., 2018. Education for whom? Engineering multiculturalism and liberal peace in
post-conflict Kosovo. Southeast European and Black Sea Studies, 18(2), pp.239-259.