Rhetorical Analysis Of 'Susan B. Anthony And Chief Joseph'

Persuasion of the masses can be an exceedingly effective means of protest, engendering persuasive writings to be immensely powerful tools. However, there are a variety of ways to express a viewpoint, which leads to these types of writings containing an array of similarities and differences. For instance, in their respective passages, Susan B. Anthony and Chief Joseph both use persuasion to attempt to sway readers to convert to their views. Anthony's and Joseph's passages are similar in many aspects, such as their use of pathos to induce audiences and their use of persuasion in defense of themselves and others; however, they differ in many ways as well, including their tone and their usage of the other rhetorical appeals: logos and ethos. …show more content…
In Anthony's passage, she declares "… I stand before you tonight under indictment for the alleged crime of having voted in the last presidential election without having the right to vote." With these words, she stands up for the women who work for a country that refuses their right to suffrage. Similarly, in his passage, Chief Joseph states, " Hear me, my chiefs, my heart is sick and sad... I will fight no more." He is informing the other chiefs who continue to fight a hopeless battle that the time has come to surrender to the opposing forces. Another similarity between these passages is their usage of the rhetorical device pathos as a method of persuasion. Anthony's passage, a heated argument for justice, is ripe with pathos. From accusations such as "it is a downright mockery to talk to women of their enjoyment of the blessings of liberty while they are denied the use of the... ballot," to her description of the government as a "hateful oligarchy of sex," emotion has deep roots in her passage. Correspondingly, Chief Joseph's plea for surrender is very intentionally filled with pathos because it is the best means to get his intended point across: their current actions are only prolonging their misery. Consequently, phrases such as, "The little …show more content…
The persuasive passages "On Surrender at Bear Paw Mountain" and "On Women's Right to Vote" hold many resemblances such as similar reasoning and use of pathos, but they differ in their inclusion of the rhetorical devices and the author's tone. Although these passages are both persuasive, this does not necessarily mean that they are written entirely alike; they hold an array of similarities and