Elie Wiesel Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech Analysis

Take a Stand Against Injustice

Many people stay silent in times of dispute because they fear being judged, but in reality staying quiet and not choosing sides will never solve the situation. Elie Wiesel was a devoted Jew who was forced to suffer the horrors of the Holocaust at the young age of 15. After being shipped in cattle cars to many concentration camps, including Auschwitz, Elie began fighting for justice and equality for all people despite income, race, religion, or political views. In his Nobel Prize acceptance speech, Elie Wiesel stresses his claim that silence and neutrality will always benefit the oppressor through the use of logos, ethos, and pathos.

In Wiesel’s speech he uses the rhetorical appeal, logos, to present to

his audience that the antagonist in any situation will be helped by bystanders staying silent and not choosing sides. Wiesel mentions many examples of cruelty in the world today in his speech. He says that while it may not be in our neighborhood, somewhere in the world there are always, “victims of hunger, of racism, and political persecution, writers and poets, prisoners in so many lands governed by the Left and by the Right. Human rights are being violated on every continent. More people oppressed than free” (Wiesel 11). This is an example of logos because Wiesel is giving specific examples of injustice; everything he says can be proved by an event. Wiesel is using logical reasoning to give his audience a reason, besides just feelings, to support him and take action. The problems Wiesel talks about are real and are affecting the world everywhere and the solution to these issues is not found in silence and neutrality. As he gives his audience rational explanations to stand up for one another, Elie defends his point of the tormenter being helped by permissiveness and refusal to take sides.
In addition, ethos is used by Wiesel throughout his speech to convince his listeners to take a stand for the good and never stay silent when injustice manifests. Wiesel begins his speech by saying he is frightened to receive this award; he worries he is not great enough to represent those who have suffered the Holocaust with him. As he explains to the audience why their decision frightens him, he asks, “do I have the right to represent the multitudes who have perished? Do I have the right to accept this great honor on their behalf? … I do not” (Wiesel 3). Instead of accepting the award for himself, he recognizes everyone who faced the Holocaust as well. This gains the audience’s trust because he is showing profound humility. His audience has confidence in what he is saying because they know he has good morals and values and they are more likely to be in favor of what he is saying. By getting the audience to trust him, Wiesel strengthens his stand against holding a neutral stance and keeping quiet when discrimination is present.
As well as ethos, Elie Wiesel uses pathos to challenge his audience to stand up for the oppressed and fight for those who cannot defend themselves.

Wiesel has dedicated his life to helping others because he knows what it is like to be alone and suffering. As a great example to the people, he explains, “that every moment is a moment of grace, every hour an offering; not to share them would mean to betray them. Our lives no longer belong to us alone; they belong to all those who need us desperately” (Wiesel 13). Elie makes the audience feel guilty for not helping those that needed their help the most and for taking their freedom for granted. By making them feel guilty, he is actually pushing the audience to do more to help their community. The reader feels inspired and challenged to dedicate their life, like Wiesel, to helping the oppressed. Wiesel has an impact on his listeners by using pathos and encouraging them to never stay neutral and to never stay silent.

To reiterate, Elie Wiesel uses logos, ethos, and pathos in his Nobel Prize acceptance speech to retaliate against silence and neutrality because the oppressor will always be benefited. He makes logical points that prove his beliefs to his audience. Also, he appeals to his readers morals and gains their trust. Wiesel also toys with his reader’s emotions, making them feel guilty for not helping those who need it most. Silence will only provoke the oppressor and neutrality will only benefit them. Refuse to stay

silent and take a stand.