In the passage from Elie Wiesel's speech, he uses a rhetorical device known as rhetorical questions. Rhetorical questions are questions that are asked not to receive an answer but to make a point or stimulate critical thinking in the audience.
Here's how Wiesel uses rhetorical questions in the passage:
1. Wiesel asks questions like "Does it mean that we have learned from the past?" and "Have we really learned from our experiences?" to prompt the audience to reflect on whether lessons have been absorbed from history and whether society has evolved to be less indifferent.
2. By posing questions such as "Is today's justified intervention in Kosovo... a lasting warning?" and "Will it discourage other dictators... to do the same?" Wiesel encourages the audience to contemplate the impact of current actions on future behaviors and global events.
3. These rhetorical questions engage the audience by keeping them actively thinking about the themes of indifference, humanity, and the prevention of atrocities, rather than simply presenting information in a straightforward manner.
In conclusion, Wiesel's use of rhetorical questions in this passage serves to provoke thought, challenge assumptions, and emphasize the gravity of the issues he is addressing.