The theme of "Terrible Things," Elie Wiesel's excerpt, and the Neimoller poem can be seen as similar through the idea of indifference and its consequences. Here are three pieces of evidence that support this similarity: 1. In "Terrible Things" 2. In Elie Wiesel's excerpt 3. The Neimoller poem.
1. In "Terrible Things," the animals are initially indifferent to the disappearance of the other animals. They think, "It doesn't concern me." However, as the story progresses, the Terrible Things take away each group of animals one by one, and eventually, there is no one left to protest their own captivity. This illustrates how indifference can lead to the destruction of a community.
2. In Elie Wiesel's excerpt, he describes how the people in his village were indifferent to the increasing persecution of the Jews by the Nazis. They believed that the rumors were exaggerated and chose to ignore the signs of danger. This indifference allowed the Nazis to continue their atrocities without facing resistance. The consequence was the eventual extermination of millions of innocent lives.
3. The Neimoller poem, which starts with the line "First, they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out..." highlights the danger of indifference. It shows how the narrator's lack of action and indifference towards the persecution of different groups eventually leads to the loss of their own freedom. The poem emphasizes that remaining silent and indifferent to the suffering of others can have severe consequences.
In all three pieces, the theme of indifference is evident, showing that the failure to act or speak out against injustice can lead to tragic outcomes. Indifference allows oppressive forces to gain power and carry out acts of cruelty. This theme serves as a reminder of the importance of empathy, compassion, and active resistance against injustice in order to prevent such terrible things from happening.