Rhetorical Analysis Of Ending Violence By John Silvester

Violence is a prominent characteristic of society’s general disposition. John Silvester criticises this prevalence in his opinion article, “Ending violence calls for drastic measures.” Through a detailed disclosure of the detrimental effects of violence, Silvester emphasises the need for these “drastic measures”, and calls on his audience (parents of adolescents) to take a stand against the issue. Silvester employs the use of a forthright tone to project an air of dominance, therefore presenting his view as a credible perspective to adopt.
Silvester depicts his animosity for violence, in particular wanton attacks, by alluding to an imbalance of power between the attacker and victim. Silvester appeals to the reader’s values by mentioning he “16 year old kid.” The clear disclosure of the individuals age places emphasis on the unjust nature of the act, and the audience is called to take a stand against that which is clearly immoral. Silvester augments the issue’s severity …show more content…
through the use of the rhetorical question regarding the “drunk kid” “lash[ing] out” depicts a negative view towards the “mandatory minimum eight year jail sentence” proposed by Premier Barry O Farrel. Silvester adopts a challenging tone as he speaks of the resulting “freak death” caused by the child’s “fear”, and therefore identifies the glaring flaws in the proposal. Silvester conveys to readers that current acts of change are not appropriate for dealing with the situation. Silvester draws attention to the injustice of this through the juxtaposition of the “drunk kid” and the “bigger man.” The divergence between the two is made apparent, as well as the differences in their maturity. Unlike the “muscled morons” that Silvester attempts to depict as callous and violent, the “kid” cannot truly be held accountable for his actions. Silvester indicates the need for reform within sociey, and the need for a shift away from current