Analysis Of Let There Be Dark By Paul Brogard

“I knew night skies in which meteors left smoky trails across sugary spreads of stars.” Here, Los Angeles Times reporter Paul Brogard describes his childhood experience of watching the universe in action while immersed in true darkness. In his article, “Let There Be Dark,” Brogard persuades his audience that natural darkness should be preserved. He bolsters this argument through the use of facts and statistics, together with logical reasoning, as well as purposeful language and an emotional appeal, all the while maintaining a credible account. Primarily using factual information and logic, Brogard builds a convincing, well-founded argument. In his first paragraph, he explains that “…when 8 to 10 children born in the United States will never …show more content…
In fact, he opens his essay with a personal story. He says, “At my family’s cabin on a Minnesota lake, I knew woods so dark that my hands disappeared before my eyes.” Brogard’s goal in doing this is to create a setting for the reader to feel a part of; to develop the reader’s personal, relatable connection with the beauty of darkness. He continues this agenda by relating that “when we feel the closeness of nightfall, we reach quickly for a light switch.” Through this statement, Brogard both makes the reader understand the simple reality of the issue and evokes a slight sense of guilt. Furthermore, in paragraph four, Brogard describes light pollution as “the bulldozer of the night, wrecking habitat and disrupting ecosystems several billion years in the making.” As he threatens an ecological collapse, he establishes a feeling of imminent doom - cornering the reader into thinking that there is no other option than addressing the lack of darkness. Brogard also appeals to the wistful side of the reader, when, after describing how the universe has inspired great thinkers, he questions “Who knows what this vision of the night sky might inspire in each of us, in our children or grandchildren?” To evoke a feeling of loss and denial in the reader, he then explains the sad truth that “Those of us over 35 are perhaps among the last generation to have known truly dark nights.” Throughout his essay, Brogard’s emotional appeal is largely dedicated to vulnerable human emotions such as guilt, fear, and grief, in an attempt to create a deeper connection between the reader and the argument. However, in his final paragraph, his argument’s swan song is one of hope. He says, “It doesn’t have to be this way,” and goes on to explain measures being taken to address the problem. Activating the innate, human pathos of the reader and