RHETORICAL ANALYSIS

Rhetorical Analysis

“Civil Disobedience”

Introduction

Citizens should not respect or obey the Government, which is practicing the faulty, malfunctions and harmful for wealth and prosperity of public. Henry David Thoreau wrote the essay “Civil disobedience”. The work of Thoreau was to alert the public with this idea, and he was elaborated upon “Civil disobedience” idea in a variety of ways. He was against the unjust treatment of American Government with the public. In order to deliver his message, he used a rebellious, authorative, and condescending tone, to compel the point of view and perceptions of the Americans (Otterberg, 2011). His compelling and diction ideas inspired the every citizen to espouse his antipathy for the Government of United State.

“Why follow and associate yourself with a stronger, more powerful institution then yourself that are impure, less than perfect and abuse their powers?” (Cohen, 1999, 162)

He implanted that idea into the roots of the audiences' minds. In the beginning, Thoreau did not start his doctrine; he proceeded to practice while he was depressed with the malfunctioning of the U.S Government.

“But at once a better government” (Cohen, 1999, 162)

The above statement is not demonstrating the authority but a contiguous request for the government for further improvement. Additionally, Thoreau used many (maybe excessive) statements commencing with “Why”, when foregrounding folly methods were used by the government and while U.S government exposed the unfairness. Notably, for instructing the people, Thoreau utilized the rhetorical strategy mixed-metaphors in order to tell how to disobey the government in following quotation “Let your life be a counter friction to stop the machine” (Otterberg, 2011, 115).

Discussion

A very significant aspect that needs to be taken into account while examining Thoreau's essay is the time in which he created it, 1849. The Mexican War was taking place, which Thoreau utilized to demonstrate how the government abuses their powers. Boldly but surprisingly that Thoreau did not only criticize the Government, but also to citizens. The criticism was not on wrong reason. His criticism was base on the fact that the people did not have the potency to raise their voices in order to rebel against the government immediately and individually. He says “Men generally, under such a government as this, think that they ought to wait until they have persuaded the majority to alter them” (Cohen, 1999, 159). Thoreau urged people not to be afraid to resist and forget the mindset that “The remedy will be worse than the evil,” which is the fault of the government.

Based on Thoreau's section on slavery, the audience can tell he is anti-slavery, and it is safe to say he encourages abolitionism. That is where Thoreau's point of view came into play. For example, although writers and teachers do not encourage using first person singular pronouns like “I” or “me”, Thoreau utilized “I” in such a way that he would not dare be criticized and how he made its inclusion seem necessary for the entire flow of the essay. Since Thoreau's inclusion of his jail experience convinces the reader ...