A rhetorical analysis can be termed as an art of persuasion that analyzes the different elements or strategies applied by an author for the purpose of communicating his or her massage to the existing audience and to persuade the readers.
Honesty is an important virtue that forms part of the human life. Honesty is a moral value encouraged by many people in homes and organizations. It may not be easy for a person to tell the truth about something, but honesty is one of the building blocks in the creation and maintaining relationships. William Damon, in his essay, "The Death of Honesty", presents the critical issue of dishonesty. In Damon's essay, he has targeted several specific people such as young and older adults, students, educators and members of the general public. The method used by Damon to inform and convince his audience about dishonesty is the rhetoric technique of logos, ethos and pathos. Damon explains that dishonesty a key aspect that has caused disorientation and the fall of the society. Through using the ethos, pathos and logos as rhetorical forms, Damon aims at influencing his audience to understand a specific point of view.
Application of Logos
Logos means to make an appeal basing on reputable sources, facts, and accurate statistics. Damon uses the rhetorical form of logos to make his audience understand the virtue of honesty. He provides historical references of figures such as Abraham Lincoln, Roman goddess and George Washington who succeeded as a result of honesty to support his argument. Also, in his essay Damon shows that in the different categories of work such as business, politics and journalism, the leaders are mostly dishonest and that they do not find the behavior wrong. These jobs use dishonesty to attain success. In terms of education, Damon gives evidence of statistics on the cheating of college students as presented by Donald McCabe on his research. From the research, it is clear that not only are the students cheating, but the teachers are supporting them. Damon lays out several arrangements in schools that tolerate cheating today.
Application of Ethos
Ethos means to make an appeal to ethics using character or personality. Damon uses ethos to reach out to his audience to make them understand his view on dishonesty. Using this aspect, Damon has the power of influencing the audience, as ethos and all its aspects make him credible. Damon clearly illustrates that he is credible by providing a research as a source showing facts. He used a research conducted by George Orwell to show that most of the politicians do not speak the truth, most at times (Damon, 2012). He further explained that the speeches conducted by the politicians are to hide truths, cause misrepresentation or soften the people to be more accepting.
This shows that honesty is not even part of the political leader’s values, clearly showing the death of honesty. Damon further explains that the aim of political language is to make bath things seem good like politics can make murder seem respectable or lies appear true. In addition, Damon gives more facts from further research, such as in the statement “It is also noteworthy that the two most universally heralded U. S. presidents (George Washington, who “could not tell a lie,” and Abraham Lincoln, who was known as “Honest Abe”) were widely acclaimed for their trustworthiness”, which indicates that honesty is very important and valued by members of the society and is highly celebrated(Damon, 2012). According to the author Abraham Lincoln and George Washington are also respected figures because of their value for honesty making them famous thus; they even have drawings and sculptors created for their commemoration in museums. The author also portrays the importance of honesty through the Romans who had a goddess called Veritas as the mother of virtue.
Application Pathos
Pathos can be termed as an appeal to people's emotions thus creating emotional responses.Throughout the article, "Death of honesty", Damon parallels all his logic arguments together with emotions for the purpose of gaining responses from the readers.In the article Damon applies the pathos technique for the purpose of influencing the emotional side of the readers. This technique is illustrated where the author provides an example of Holocaust.In the articles first paragraph, the author brings out the idea that stretching an existing truth or rather being dishonest can sometimes be regarded as justifiable. The author provides an examplewhereby states“misinforming storm troopers about the whereabouts of a hidden family during the Nazi occupation of Europe was an honorable and courageous deception”(Damon, 2012).Through his statement the author illustrates his believe that in the event of livelihood threatening as well as otherspecial circumstances tend to detach individualsfrom the truth. Here the author demonstrates the rhetorical pathos strategy in his argument. Through the holocaust's traumatic events Damon greatly rescues emotions. Other statements that evoke emotions are such as where the author states “failure to cultivate virtue in citizens can be a lethal threat to any democracy”(Damon, 2012).
Along with the application of pathos, logos and ethos, the author also uses words that can be regarded as descriptive in nature for the purpose of carrying his readers thus, from acceptance further into tolerance and outrage so as to convince them on the great urgency as well as importance of taking up the virtues of honesty thus, in their existing democratic societies. The politician's dishonesty does not amaze anyone even though they keep on talking of the need for compassion, diplomacy and protection in regard to “unadulterated truth”. Damon keeps on referring to historical figures to appeal to the spiritual and patriotic quality of his audience (Damon, 2012). Through targeting the spiritual and the patriotic aspect of his audience he is able to reach and make them understand honesty how honesty is valued.
Through this article’s title “Death of Honesty”, the author, applies a tactic that can be termed as the scare tactic which greatly arouses the readers’ emotions. The title itself creates the audience’s interest so as to have a greater understanding of the causes and reasons behind the death of honesty. This strategy applied by the author also creates fear among his audience of losing such as a paramount virtue (Damon, 2012).
In conclusion, Demon in his article “Death of Honesty “applies rhetorical strategies as well as appeals for the purpose of persuading his readers. Some of these rhetorical strategies include emotional appeal, ethos and logos. Other strategies are such as the scare tactic that is portrayed in the article’s title and use of descriptive words.
Reference
Damon W. (2012).Death of Honesty. Hoover Institute. Retrieved From: http://www.hoover.org/research/death-honesty
