Nobel Speech

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Oscar Salcido Mr. yerkes English 9 227 February 2018

“Nobel Peace Prize” Elie Wiesel explains the Nobel Peace Prize and shows a sense of being humble to the the people that helped him achieve his goal and had chose him to win this meaningful award. In the beginning of the speech that he gave he focuses on giving thanks for all those who have supported him even though he thinks he doesnt deserve this award. In the speech he says, “ do i have the right to accept this great honor on their behalf? Do i have the right to represent the multitudes who have perished? I do not.” This shows how Elie is stating how he doesn’t have the certain rights that this award requires. Elie also states, “ no one may speak for the dead, no one may interpret their mutilated dreams and visions. And yet i sense their presence. I always do---and at this moment more than ever”. This explains how at the moment he feels the presence of everyone who has guided him to reach his goal and getting this award. Elie Wiesel explains in the middle of the speech how devastating it was going through the caps and seeing horrific things having many questions on why it’s

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happening. In the speech it says, “ i remember the anguish. It all happened so fast. The ghetto. The deportation. The sealed cattle car. The fiery altar which the history of our people and the future of mankind were meant to be sacrificed.” All this shows all the many things jews like Elie saw during the whole holocaust and how horrific it was to know that all jews were gonna end up dying. In the speech it also says, “ ...the boy is turning to me, “‘Tell me,’” he asks….., “ what have you done with your life” and I tell him that i have tried. That I have tried to keep my memory alive that i have tried to fight those who would forget. Because those who forget are guilty…”. All this shows how Elie gave some advice to a little kid that had asked him a question and how he has been trying to do his best to not be guilty. At the end of the speech Elie talks about the meaningful ways jews are and how they should not stay silent when something bad happens. Elie says, “ and this is why i swore to never be silent whenever human beings endure suffering or humiliation.” Elie says this to help us know that whenever something is going bad or you see something bad going on to never stay silent. He also says, “ sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are being endangered or when human dignity is in jeopardy”. We must be the light in others lives and shine and not stay silent when you know something is going on.