Hope Despair And Memory By Elie Wiesel Rhetorical Analysis

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Oppression is the systematic method of prolonged cruelty and unjust treatment, often intended for those who are deemed “different” by a hierarchical society. It’s a basis that can be found in the plot of a fictional movie or novel, but most importantly, it’s an aspect of both past and modern life that has affected multiple nations. Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor, is a humanitarian who embodies the personal experiences of what being oppressed feels like – how it itches at one’s skin like the hatred and stares directed at them. The reason he is so important is because of his stories; what he has seen. The insight and intelligence he has brought forth further educates those who had previously accepted the world with their eyes closed. …show more content…

By stating, “racism itself is dreadful, but when it pretends to be legal, and therefore just, when a man like Nelson Mandela is imprisoned, it becomes even more repugnant” and “one cannot help but assign the two systems, in their supposed legality, to the same camp” (Wiesel, p.1), the Holocaust survivor is creating solidarity within two separate decades that are connected by the government’s tyranny. The rationale behind constructing a system of unity is to ensure the lives of the oppressed, regardless of their personal beliefs and cultures. Mandela is not affiliated with the Holocaust, nor is he a Jew – rather the former President of South Africa who stood up against anti-black movements – but he is still bound by a common …show more content…

Mandela was not initially connected to the incidents surrounding the Holocaust, but he was mentioned by Wiesel because of the similarities in their oppression. The hostages in Iran and the deaths in Paris had nothing to do with Hitler’s reign, but the terrorism connected to the murders correlated in tune with his plans of genocide. Whatever the reason an act of oppression is prevalent within a society, it can always be traced back to earlier days and issues. Wiesel said that, “mankind must remember that peace is not God’s gift to his creatures, it is our gift to each other” (p.2) and by studying the way oppression once was, and how it has translated into more modern times, a safer world has the opportunity to

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