Encomium Of Helen Rhetorical Analysis

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Gabrielle Imparato Section 10382 English 2800 Professor Ribitzky Rhetoric in the Encomium of Helen Gorgias’ use of rhetoric in the Encomium of Helen helps even more to prove Helen of Troy is innocent. He uses a type of speech called epideictic speech. Helen eloped with Paris of Troy which ignited a destructive war between Greece and Troy. Gorgias attempts to take the blame off Helen in the Encomium of Helen. The reasons Gorgias gives for Helen being innocent are will of fate, the wishes of the gods, the votes of necessity, by force reduced, by words seduced, and by love possessed. Gorgias lays out the reasons for Helen fleeing Sparta, disproves each reason, and reproves Helen of the blame towards the end. He borrowed some of his techniques of persuasion from Socrates. The first reasons Gorgias gives for Helen’s innocence are will of fate, the wishes of the Gods, and the votes of Necessity. This means that it is destiny that initiated Helen to leave Sparta and move to Troy with Paris. Gorgias wrote, “…for god’s predetermination cannot be hindered by human premeditation. For it is not the nature of things, not for the stronger to be hindered by the weaker, but for the …show more content…

It is the love for Paris which causes Helen to flee. She was torn between her infatuation to Troy and staying in Greece. Her vision was blurred by the prince of Troy (Paris). She did not see an enemy of Greece, rather an attractive man, perceptively and physically. “It is natural for the sight to be grieved by some things and to long for others; and much love and desire for many things and bodies is wrought in many people,” Gorgias explains (81). Love cannot be controlled and has the same divinity as the gods possess. Gorgias believes that love is a human flaw that everyone possesses. Again, he is trying to relate his argument back to the reader’s emotions. If the audience’s emotions are tempted, they are more likely to agree with the

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