Rhetorical Analysis Of Andrew Davidson's Following My Accident

Andrew Davidson uses several rhetorical strategies throughout “Following my accident...,” an excerpt from The Gargoyle. These add great amounts of emotional depth, AND SOMETHING ELSE. In the opening paragraph, Davidson describes the doctor’s incisions to release a “secret inner being”(line 4), a “thing of engorged flesh”(6). This introduces a divide between the narrator, and his body; establishing it as it’s own entity. Personification is continued throughout the excerpt, such as when the narrator’s immune system is said to “[stagger] under [...] strain”(12), and when his “body’s defences [...] just barely [function]”(15). This creates a very detached tone, seemingly removing emotion from the narrator. However, this results in the creation of a much larger emotional impact. The lack of emotion in the narration makes each description seem more believable, it doesn’t seem exaggerated.

This furthers the develops the idea of the narrator separating themselves emotionally. There is not a need to know exactly what “isotonic fluids”(9), “silver ion and sulfadiazine creams”(20), or “jejunostomy [tubes]”(24) do to understand the piece of writing. These among many other medicines and equipment mentioned act to shape an image, and invoke a feeling of emotion, they are not mentioned simply to describe medical procedures. Many of these terms are recognisable enough to create an image of therapy the narrator is undergoing, but by using more specific terms, Davidson makes the treatment seem more complex. Difficult and intimidating procedures often come in tandem with severe and critical health issues. This gives greater emphasis to the severity of the narrator's condition, amplifying the descriptions of “charred flesh”(28). All of the mentioned rhetorical devices all work together to create vivid imagery, and to deepen the emotional impact of the