Rhetorical Analysis Of 'We Cannot Treat Men Like Machine'
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In this passage by Royal Dixon, the author incorporated various
persuasive techniques to build an extremely well-crafted essay, which
encourages the readers’ respect toward the animals. By emphasizing the
common aspects of the animals and the human, the author attempted to convey
his points that animals deserves more respect. His logic and persuasiveness
was strengthened through rhetorical question, criticism of the limitation of
science, and emphasis on the interconnection between humans and animals.
The author is mindfully persuasive from the very beginning starting off
his essay by rhetorical questions. His intentional manipulation of structure of
placing the rhetorical questions directly after the commonly held concept of “we
cannot treat men like machine”, had an impact of attracting reader’s attention.
Two consequently connected rhetorical questions clearly exposed the triviality
of the logic that the author attempts to counter. The author’s usage of phrase,
“Why should we” allowed the readers to reconsider why it has to be so, rather
than blindly accepting the black and white logic of “cataloging every human-like
action of animals under the word instinct”. The author emphasizes the illogical
jump in this black and white logic by listing some familiar examples: “that the
sun and moon were made only for laudable purpose of giving light unto a
chosen few, and that young lambs playing on a grassy hillside, near a cool
spring, are just so much mutton