Indifference

In the short story, "The Lottery," and the speech, "Perils of Indifference," acts of violence and inhumanity are demonstrated greatly. They both have a common denominator, ordinary people commiting acts of atrocities, and an awareness of what is going on.



In the short story, "The Lottery," the villagers depict the violence that they partake in, as a tradition. A tradition is something that is done, often, once a year in celebration, or acceptance. In the small village that is protrayed their tradition is every June. 27, and the children have recently been dismissed from school. The village is seemingly normal on the surface, smiling faces, happy families, and an over all pride. But their tradition is a bizzare one indeed, and one that most people want to keep. "They do say,"..."that over in the north village they're talking of giving up the lottery."..."Pack of crazy fools,"..."listening to the young folks, nothing's good enough for them. Next thing you know they'll be wanting to go back to living in caves.." The families go in knowing that if the head of the household is chosen, that person, or someone from the family is going to die. They willingly put themselves and their loved ones up for a chance to die. It may have been a kind of Russian roulette, an adrenaline rush, perhaps an excuse to take stress, and anger out, or someone to take their sins in a type of sacrifice. The people in this village are seemingly normal on the surface, but every June. 27, they all take part in murdering one of their family members, neighbors, friends, or enemies just because it's a tradition.



The speech, "Perils of Indifference," by Elie Weisel also portrays the violence amongst the human society. He explains the problem of indifference is how easy it can be "Of course, indifference can be tempting, more than that -- seductive" The repetitiveness of it all is a major problem, "ordinary" human beings don't question their "superiors" requests/orders even if it's a violent one. Elie Weisel was a Holocaust survivor and witnessed indifference first hand. Not only does indifference create more pain, and sorrow, it can lead to the murder and the degrading handling of the body afterward. Indifference during the Holocaust cost many lives.

Indifference banishes people's hopes for change.