“The Moral Equivalent of War” by William James
Why is unity so difficult to achieve in circumstances that do not involve war or other external conflict? Why is war needed to satisfy the thirst of a nation’s people? William James answers these questions in his essay “The Moral Equivalent of War” with a purpose of distinguishing between the various aspects of militarism and pacifism. James conveys several main points that are distinguished by a conclusive tone and a common position at an extreme end of a paragraph. The conclusive tone and placement indicate that the statement is a main point because that is where readers, and even listeners, expect a main point before the new topic of the next paragraph. For example, James states, “In modern …show more content…
In her essay entitled “How it Feels to Be Colored Me”, Zora Neale Hurston uses various anecdotes and a conversational tone to answer this question and emphasize accepting individuality over racial pride to her audience. Hurston’s essay was first published in The World Tomorrow, May 1928. Although clearly designated for readers of The World Tomorrow, the essay strikes some controversial topics without conforming to a single one, namely racial segregation and black pride. Therefore, Hurston may have believed that setting her own viewpoint would get her audience members from both extremes of racial ideology. The main point that she makes in her essay through her paper bag metaphor also indicates this ranging audience. Everyone is a “bag” (117) that defines his or her external and apparent skin color. Yet the “jumble” (117) in one bag is that person’s individuality and character and is “so like the jumble in the [other] bags” (117). Since there is no claim that one race is better than another, there is no chance of a reader feeling offended and thus audience members would be more willing to understand the essay. This point of pride in one’s self before one’s race is very different and even moderate compared to other racial ideologies that it suits the purpose of delivering a new message to audience members who might hold extreme views regarding racial ideology. In Hurston’s view, the only reason for people’s relationships to differ is because of individual qualities, or the “jumble” (117) inside the bag. Overall, this moderate tone is effective with Hurston’s diverse audience because it does not conflict directly with the views of any of its readers by highlighting a more elusive point about
Why is unity so difficult to achieve in circumstances that do not involve war or other external conflict? Why is war needed to satisfy the thirst of a nation’s people? William James answers these questions in his essay “The Moral Equivalent of War” with a purpose of distinguishing between the various aspects of militarism and pacifism. James conveys several main points that are distinguished by a conclusive tone and a common position at an extreme end of a paragraph. The conclusive tone and placement indicate that the statement is a main point because that is where readers, and even listeners, expect a main point before the new topic of the next paragraph. For example, James states, “In modern …show more content…
In her essay entitled “How it Feels to Be Colored Me”, Zora Neale Hurston uses various anecdotes and a conversational tone to answer this question and emphasize accepting individuality over racial pride to her audience. Hurston’s essay was first published in The World Tomorrow, May 1928. Although clearly designated for readers of The World Tomorrow, the essay strikes some controversial topics without conforming to a single one, namely racial segregation and black pride. Therefore, Hurston may have believed that setting her own viewpoint would get her audience members from both extremes of racial ideology. The main point that she makes in her essay through her paper bag metaphor also indicates this ranging audience. Everyone is a “bag” (117) that defines his or her external and apparent skin color. Yet the “jumble” (117) in one bag is that person’s individuality and character and is “so like the jumble in the [other] bags” (117). Since there is no claim that one race is better than another, there is no chance of a reader feeling offended and thus audience members would be more willing to understand the essay. This point of pride in one’s self before one’s race is very different and even moderate compared to other racial ideologies that it suits the purpose of delivering a new message to audience members who might hold extreme views regarding racial ideology. In Hurston’s view, the only reason for people’s relationships to differ is because of individual qualities, or the “jumble” (117) inside the bag. Overall, this moderate tone is effective with Hurston’s diverse audience because it does not conflict directly with the views of any of its readers by highlighting a more elusive point about