How would the meaning of the following passage change if Wiesel used the word “suffering” instead of “anguish”?

Question

How would the meaning of the following passage change if Wiesel used the word “suffering” instead of “anguish”?

- “Suffering” would imply a physical rather than emotional torment

- “Anguish” intensifies the severity of their suffering more so than “suffering.”

-“Anguish” implies a more manageable pain.

-“Anguish” implies a level of confusion along with the pain, whereas “suffering” does not

Answer 1

My view on the differences between these two words stems from how I've seen them used in various contexts, so please note that there is some subjective interpretation here.

I think that anguish is a particular type of suffering. While suffering can describe all sorts of pain and hardship, anguish implies that the sufferer is deeply aware of their own pain. This pain and awareness might stem from guilt, existential dread, anxiety, etc.

So I might say that I'm "suffering from the crushing heat of the desert" but that I feel "great anguish at the thought of dying alone in the wastelands."'

Although words and their meanings evolve over time, it can sometimes help to look at the origins of the words to get a feel for them. We can see that "to suffer" relates to the idea of carrying a heavy load, while "anguish" is related to narrowness and being pressed from both sides. So think of how those two kinds of hardship might feel when considering which to use. I'd be a lot more mentally stressed out being squeezed by two walls like Luke Skywalker in the trash compactor than I would be having to carry a big rock up a hill!

Answer 2

I would go with the 2nd choice

Anguish intensifies the suffering

we all may suffer from minor ailments, but anguish is something major

dictionary definition of anguish is "severe mental or physical suffering"