Pericles Funeral Oration
Both “Pericles’ Funeral Oration” transcribed by Thucydides and “The Perils of Indifference” by Elie Wiesel demonstrate desire for a redefined culture: a culture that is geared towards a better societal attitude. Though both speeches address the need to honor peoples who have died (Pericles to those who have died in the Peloponnesian War; Wiesel to those who have died in the Holocaust) and invoke various feelings ranging from sorrow to pride, the manner in which both speeches present so differs slightly. The speeches use variations of tones that appeal to the audience in such a way that emphasizes their main idea. In “Pericles’ Funeral Oration”, Pericles praises Athens, especially its democracy, in contrast to Sparta’s. He states that they
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Athens, at the time, was undoubtedly the most civilized society, but that never seemed to be the cause of any sort of bragging; it only opens up the potential the Athens has to be praised. For instance, Pericles states (in contrast to Sparta) on one occasion that “there is a difference, too, in [their] educational systems. The Spartans, from their earliest boyhood, are submitted to the most laborious training in courage; [the Athenians] pass our lives without all these restrictions, and yet are just as ready to face the same dangers as they are.” Pericles appears to be prideful about how Athenians are treated in terms of their military and how it is taught and enforced to their people and trainees.
The second speech, “The Perils of Indifference”, by Elie Wiesel most directly addresses people with a high position in the world of U.S. politics at the time the speech was delivered: President Clinton, Mrs. Clinton, members of the Congress, Ambassador Holbrooke, etc. However, there is an underlying message to people who are bystanders. Evident in multiple points of his speech, Wiesel consistently addresses how being a bystander is an undesirable, negative position. He goes on to use how the Jewish people felt during the Holocaust towards God and their lack of response of any kind from him as an
Athens, at the time, was undoubtedly the most civilized society, but that never seemed to be the cause of any sort of bragging; it only opens up the potential the Athens has to be praised. For instance, Pericles states (in contrast to Sparta) on one occasion that “there is a difference, too, in [their] educational systems. The Spartans, from their earliest boyhood, are submitted to the most laborious training in courage; [the Athenians] pass our lives without all these restrictions, and yet are just as ready to face the same dangers as they are.” Pericles appears to be prideful about how Athenians are treated in terms of their military and how it is taught and enforced to their people and trainees.
The second speech, “The Perils of Indifference”, by Elie Wiesel most directly addresses people with a high position in the world of U.S. politics at the time the speech was delivered: President Clinton, Mrs. Clinton, members of the Congress, Ambassador Holbrooke, etc. However, there is an underlying message to people who are bystanders. Evident in multiple points of his speech, Wiesel consistently addresses how being a bystander is an undesirable, negative position. He goes on to use how the Jewish people felt during the Holocaust towards God and their lack of response of any kind from him as an