Montaigne's Essay On The Power Of The Imagination

Throughout Montaigne’s essay “On the Power of the Imagination”, several different rhetorical devices are used to establish exactly what kind of writer he wants to come across as. His use of anecdotes and contradictions show that he is a caring, yet skeptical man; one that does not usually do things out of character. Montaigne uses imagery and pathos to further convey his empathetic, yet wary nature towards those he is surrounded by. Finally, he uses first person point of view in order to make his essay more personal and relatable. Through the use of the rhetorical devices mentioned above, Montaigne is able to affectively present himself as a man who is not only empathetic, but cautious and cynical as well. They also allow the reader to connect with Montaigne’s essay and form their own emotional responses. Montaigne uses anecdotes throughout this essay in attempt to convey how he feels in relation to those around him. One particular …show more content…
These devices not only show that Montaigne is a caring and empathetic man, but also that he is a writer who knows how to emotionally influence his audience. He uses anecdotes and contradictions to build trust between himself and the reader. Imagery and pathos are used to invoke an emotional connection and eventual response from the audience. Finally, first person point of view is used to simplify his writing style in order to make his essay more relatable. It is through all of these devices, that the reader comes to know Montaigne as an emotional man who cares deeply, but also does not take everything at face value. These are not the only purposes the techniques highlighted in this essay serve though; they also hold as a testament to the time period in which this was written. Montaigne wrote about things others dared not even talk about, and it is for this reason that we still read his works of literature