A Ship in the Harbor “A ship in the harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” A wise quote from John A. Shedd. A boat is secure inside the harbor, but it is useless. Inside a harbor, a boat can’t traverse oceans, set wars in motion, or discover new lands. Figuratively, we, the people, are the ships, and our safe haven is our comfort zone. Without reaching out of your comfort zone, you can’t conquer your world. You can’t make a difference. You need take a risk. Leave your safe haven and explore. Russell Baker, in No Gumption by Russell Baker, doesn’t leave his comfort zone often. His lack of courage makes him a ship in the harbor. Baker writes about his conversation with the man hiring newspaper boys on page 477. His mother tells the man after he asks a question, “[Russell] certainly does.” Russell says after,“That’s right.” Russell is too frightened to stand up and speak for himself. He lets his mother speak for him, even though the marketer wants to speak to him individually. …show more content…
Russell also writes, about his dream to be a writer, ‘“[Russell], maybe you could be a writer.” I clasped the idea to my heart,’ on page 482.
Russell starts coming out of the harbor, in this quote. He had never thought of writing before, and this was a new idea, and dream. However, he sails back into the harbor, with this quote, ‘I did not tell anyone, for fear of being made fun of in the schoolyard,’ on page 482. Russell is afraid of what others think, and he is therefore concerned about being himself. He’s embarrassed of his dreams and ambitions, that it might be not admired, in the
schoolyard. ‘I was afraid of the dogs that snarled.’ On page 480, Russell writes about the obstacles he faces, and how he overcomes them. Even though Russell didn’t desire to go near the dogs, he did, because what he wanted was on the opposite side. He shows that though he was often a ship in the harbor, sometimes he could become a sailing ship. I think I’m a ship half in the harbor, and half out. I am scared to stand up for others, and sometimes feel embarrassed to help people. I’d rather sit inside, in a comfortable chair, with a good book, then go to a dance, party, or anything even remotely social. Sometimes, we are all ships in the harbor. But that’s not what we are here for. We’re here to explore the uncharted, dangerous waters. To change the world, to travel the world. So don’t be a ship in the harbor, be a ship pushing against waves. Be courageous, and daring. Leave your comfort zone, and celebrate.
In 102 Minutes, Chapter 7, authors Dwyer and Flynn use ethos, logos, and pathos to appeal to the readers’ consciences, minds and hearts regarding what happened to the people inside the Twin Towers on 9/11. Of particular interest are the following uses of the three appeals.
Jared Diamond makes a great and compelling argument about how inequality across the entire globe originated. The main components that were agreeing with this argument were guns germs and steel. Guns meaning the advancement in weaponry, military warfare and military sophistication. Germs meaning the harmful disease and other foul illness that wiped out humans throughout History. Then the third and final point steel, which was about the advancement in societies and the complex sophistication with their technology, which lead to building great architecture and devices that were completely impactful.
In, “The Speech of Miss Polly Baker” written by Benjamin Franklin (one of the Founding Fathers) in 1747, brought up the disparities that were between men and women within the judicial system. Also, “The Speech of Miss Polly Baker” also briefly points out, how religion has been intertwined with politics. All throughout “The Speech of Miss Polly Baker,” Benjamin Franklin uses very intense diction and syntax to help support what he is trying to express to the rest of society. Also writing this speech in the view point of a women, greatly helps establish what he is trying to say. If Benjamin Franklin was to write it as a man, the speech my have not had the same passionate effect as it currently has.
In the article “The Foul Reign of Self Reliance” by Benjamin Anastas the main topic being discussed is the topic of self reliance. It discusses how it is bad and how much the American society has been negatively effected because of it especially in politics because self reliance presents a self centered view. In the article Anastas’s uses rhetorical strategies such as pathos, logos, and to help the readers understand the concept of “self reliance”. Anasta’s uses pathos as well as logos, Anecdote and tone tone to let the reader know that the ideas that Emerson is discussing is not ok. Through out the article he explains that self reliance comes with one having to be selfish and self centered, Anasta uses examples from our society and challenges
“The sea's only gifts are harsh blows, and occasionally the chance to feel strong. Now I don't know much about the sea, but I do know that that's the way it is here. And I also know how important it is in life not necessarily to be strong but to feel strong. To measure yourself at least once. To find yourself at least once in the most ancient of human conditions. Facing the blind deaf stone alone, with nothing to help you but your hands and your own head.” – Christopher McCandless, Into the Wild
In the book David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell, the author investigates the correlation between success and the circumstances involved in achieving such favorable outcomes. The argument that Gladwell forms states that despite what the societal norms are, those with less skill and noticeable setbacks can actually have an advantage over the naturally gifted. He then uses this argument to try and convince others that having talent doesn’t necessarily mean that you will always win or come out on top. To construct this argument and inform others of what he believes, Gladwell uses rhetorical strategies such as comparison/contrast, and studies/statistics to help validate his opinions and strengthen the argument at hand.
In his essay entitled “The Rhetorical Stance,” Wayne Booth describes how rhetorical stance is imperative for good writing. I agree with Booth that by using rhetoric stance in our writing we can produce and powerful and well-written argument. How then do we know if we are using the art of rhetoric in our writing? According to Booth, “Rhetoric is the art of finding and employing the most effective means of persuasion on any subject, considered independently of intellectual mastery of that subject" (199). In making this comment Booth urges us to be knowledgeable on the subject we are writing about and use passion and emotional appeals to strengthen our argument. Booth gives his readers a good explanation of what the word means and how it is portrayed in essays.
A Rhetorical Analysis of “Hiding from Reality.” In today’s society the idea of “American Dream” has become a controversial and widely interpreted issue that awaked opinions and research from professionals in fields such as Economics and Journalism because of the concept that in general the American dream involves. In his essay, “Hiding from Reality,” Bob Herbert examines how the achievement of the American dream is affected by the economy and quality of education in American society, and the effect of the inadequate utilization of the sources by the politicians will impact future generations. Despite his diverse points of view to determine if the American dream is still a viable element in today’s US society, the restauration of the American
The “On Laziness” essay, written by Christopher Morley argues that philosophical laziness is a beneficial trait to possess. He illustrates this by using techniques such as humor, formal diction, and irony to convince his audience that is made up of lazy and industrious people.
In contrast, The Open Boat tells a tale of indifference and the complete apathy of nature to the follies of humans. Humans are powerless, and nature does not care. Nature cannot care; it is but an unconscious force with the constancy of this essay’s author’s motivation for finishing this essay. Thus the characters must struggle with the realization of nature's uncaring randomness and of the futility of their fight to maintain that thing they enjoy called
Pike, Gerald. “Excerpts from Criticism of the Works of Short Fiction Writers.” Short Story Criticism. Ed. Thomas Votteler. Vol. 6. Detroit: Gale Research International Limited, 1990. 90. Print.
The struggle for survival by mankind can be found in many different settings. It can be seen on a battlefield, a hospital room or at sea as related in “The Open Boat”, written in 1897 by Stephen Crane. The story is based on his actual experiences when he survived the sinking of the SS Commodore off the coast of Florida in early 1897. “The Open Boat” is Stephen Crane’s account of life and death at sea told through the use of themes and devices to emphasize the indifference of nature to man’s struggles and the development of mankind’s compassion.
John Tierney, a former op-ed columnist for the New York Times, effectively uses statistics and surveys, along with the use of fear tactics, and studies from seemingly credible sources, to persuade his readers that the underlying issue surrounding this nation's higher education system is the over admittance of women. More specifically, Tierney uses rhetoric to persuade his readers of the negative effect female education will have on marriage. Tierney believes that college educated women will still strive for a more educated mate, and will fall short due to an imbalance in the ratio of male to female students in the higher education system.
Stephen Crane’s short story “The Open Boat” is a story of conflict with nature and the human will and fight to survive. Four men find themselves clinging to life on a small boat amidst a raging sea after being shipwrecked. The four men, the oiler (Billie), the injured captain, the cook, and the correspondent are each in their own way battling the sea as each wave crest threatens to topple the dinghy. “The Open Boat” reflects human nature’s incredible ability to persevere under life-and-death situations, but it also shares a story of tragedy with the death of the oiler. It is human nature to form a brotherhood with fellow sufferers in times of life threatening situations to aid in survival. Weak from hunger and fatigue, the stranded men work together as a community against nature to survive their plight and the merciless waves threatening to overtake the boat. The brotherhood bond shared between the men in “The Open Boat” is evident through the narrator’s perspective, “It would be difficult to describe the subtle brotherhood of men that was here established on the seas. No one said that it was so. No one mentioned it. But it dwelt in the boat, and each man felt it warm him” (Crane 993). Crane understood first-hand the struggle and the reliance on others having survived the real life shipwreck of the S.S. Commodore off the coast of Florida in 1897. “The Open Boat” is an intriguing read due to Crane’s personal experience and though it is a fictional piece it shares insight into the human mind. Crain did not simply retell a story, but by sharing the struggles with each character he sought to portray the theme of an inner struggle with nature by using the literary devices of personification of nature, symbolism of the boat, and iron...
Thus, I have chosen in this study of Russell to look at both aspects of his life -- his work, and his personality and the events in his life, so as to further illuminate this fascinating individual.