The Inhumanity Of Discrimination In Dave Eggers's Zeitoun

Established journalist and human rights activist Dave Eggers relates in his biographical novel, Zeitoun, the experiences of a Muslim family during the chaos caused by Hurricane Katrina. Eggers’s purpose in his book is to address the inhumanity of discrimination within the foundations of a post-9/11 apocalyptic United States in order to impress upon his readers a sense of urgency to combat prejudice and advocate for justice. He adopts an indignant tone to pronounce his frustration and highlight the problematic influence of Islamophobia on a country that has historically been founded on diversity and religious freedom through the use of ethos, logos, and diction.
Eggers appeals to his own credibility. Towards the end of the novel, Eggers informs …show more content…
Throughout the novel, Eggers describes Zeitoun as a “devoted”, “faithful” and an “honest” man who sincerely loves his wife and influences many positive characteristics to people around him. Along with his spiritual characteristics, he is also described as a man with “high spirit” that he “felt invigorated by what he’d been able to do for the dogs”. Nevertheless the hurricane is really intense and destructive, Zeitoun still remains his high spirit and try to save everyone who suffering from the hurricane. Besides, Eggers describes others in a totally different way. Eggers delineates others as “criminals” who only think of themselves and take advantages from the disaster to benefit themselves by “looting” and “killing”. Additionally, Eggers portrays the guards in the prison “shrugged” Zeitoun and “bribed” . This is not what a guard should behavior, they treated Zeitoun differently due to his race and discrimination. Overall, the diction Eggers uses, build up a good image to Zeitoun by comparing Zeitoun as a devoted man to others who discriminate