Rhetorical Devices In Letter By Einstein

Letter by Einstein- Rhetorical Analysis
The letter by Einstein as addressed to President Roosevelt in 1939 warns the President of the possibility that the Germans may be on the verge of developing an atomic bomb. He warns of the lack in progress by the US administration in regards to enriching their uranium ores which has resulted in poor developments. In contrast, Einstein points out that Germany has seized the good uranium ores in Czechoslovakian and has stopped the sales of such uranium in the process. Einstein adds on that the destructions that can be caused by an atomic bomb are massive and that the nation that will be first to posses it will have a real advantage. He uses various rhetorical devices such as euphuism, emotional appeal and tone to communicate the intended message. …show more content…
In the letter, instead of using the term ‘atomic bomb’, Einstein employs the use of the phrase ‘the immediate future’ (Einstein). This phrase can be termed as euphuism because it connotes or implies the possibility of a brighter tomorrow. However, considering the timing of the letter and the occurrences the use of the term is suspicious. Owing to the ongoing war in Europe at the time, the phrase ‘the immediate future’ comes out as a threat. Einstein employs the use of this device to reinforce the importance uranium and the atomic bomb. By using this device, Einstein hopes to convince the President of the importance of the project at hand as it may well be the difference between success and failure in the