Name:_______________________________
Period:_________
“The Perils of Indifference”
Elie Wiesel
After having read the speech “The Perils of Indifference”, answer the following questions in the form of one brief
paragraph each.
1. Who is Elie Wiesel and what is his relationship to visibility? Give one or two of the mirrors that were
historically present in his life and explain the impact those mirrors could have on an individual.
2. In the fifth paragraph, Wiesel lists a series of allusions without expanding or discussing them. How does
listing in this case relate to the concept of visibility? What makes Wiesel’s list a functional rhetorical tool?
3. Wiesel defines indifference etymologically as “no difference”, using a quote from either Lacan or Foucault,
discuss the significance of indifference to personal and social relationships.
4. Discuss the significance of Wiesel’s example of the “Muselmanner”. How does Wiesel use the example to
change the direction of his discussion.
5. In paragraphs 12 and 13, Wiesel returns to the idea of indifference. He reestablishes indifference in a series
of dichotomies. What is the relationship of such a dichotomous understanding of indifference apply to the
concept of spectatorship (seeing and being seen).
6. The last two paragraphs are laden with questions. What is the significance of ending the discussion with
questions? What does this suggest about Wiesel’s ideas? Does this reinforce Wiesel’s argument about
indifference? In what way does this series of questioning engage identity formation?