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Rhetorical Analysis Of Patriotism By Mark Twain

513 Words3 Pages

In this essay, published 23 years after it was written, Mark Twain established his position on patriotism. Twain makes it clear that the American sense of patriotism is not true patriotism due to the way it is fed to the average citizen. While conveying his opinion, Twain uses many rhetorical strategies to hold the reader’s attention while drawing them to his side. For this essay, Twains rhetorical strategies will be analyzed. Twain begins by comparing patriotism to religion. In both, one lives by a constant set of rules established by a higher force: the nation’s leader(s) in patriotism and God in religion. However, Twain also separates the ideologies of traditional patriotism and American patriotism, where politicians and the media are the rulers. Twain does this to signify that we are followers of Patriotism, just as many are of religion. We accept what we are told and practice it out of respect of our leaders. Respect is not the only reason we follow, though. Twain also discusses the role of fear in patriotism, using the closeness of a village to represent this. If someone does not follow the accepted path, then they are seen as different—a traitor in the eyes of patriotism. This could also be alluding to the elder practices of religious groups, such as the imprisonment …show more content…

Twain now discusses patriotism in a scary light—one that makes 1984’s Big Brother look like a herald of democracy. Twain enlightens the reader with the idea that patriotism is not their choice. In speaking about the common main, Twain states: “The Patriot did not know just how or when or where he got his opinions, neither did he care, so long as he was with what seemed the majority.” This is very true—would you want to be the one child in school that does not stand for the national anthem? How about being the one member of your friends that stayed home on voting day? Twain reveals how we use patriotism to fit in, but lose freedom as a

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