Mark Twain's Rhetorical Analysis

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Mark Twain compares man to that of lower animals and how his belief that man should be at the bottom is an interesting one. Mark Twain conducts multiple observations and experiments on different species of animals and humans. According to Mark Twain, “these experiments were made in the London Zoological Gardens, and covered many months of painstaking and fatiguing work” (Twain, 2). Mark Twain’s statement is just one example of pathos - emotions used during these experiments and over a course of many months. Mark Twain’s argument is very successful because through his research, experiments, and observations, his claim is proven, successful. Mark Twain has created an interesting theory. Even though humans are inherently more intelligent than …show more content…

One of the most fascinating observations conducted by Mark Twain is when he placed seven calves into an anaconda’s cage. The anaconda swallowed one calf, crushed it, and showed no interest in the rest of the calves. Twain concluded the anaconda was satisfied. Mark Twain later read a story about hunters who were hunting buffaloes in the Great Plains. They managed to kill seventy-two of the mighty beasts. The hunters then ate what they wanted and took the buffalo’s hide, and wasted the rest. Mark Twain concluded that man wasted its resources and food, whereas the anaconda only took what it needed to survive. Mark Twain states that, “the fact stood proven that the difference between man and an anaconda is that man is cruel and the anaconda is not; and that the man wantonly destroys what he has no use for, but the anaconda does not” (Twain, 2). This proves why man should remain one of the lowest animals on Earth. This is true in today’s world. This explains why there is an excessive amount of trash and it is simple - man wastes a lot. If man only used what they needed to survive, like the anacondas, our world would be much …show more content…

The use of pathos, ethos, and logos are inherently clear within his article. Mark Twain has a specific quote whereas he incorporates both pathos and ethos to excite the reader and help the reader to understand his beliefs. “In the course of my experiments, I convinced myself that among the animals, man is the only one that harbors insults and injuries, broods over them, waits till a chance offers, then takes revenge” (Twain, 3). This quote demonstrates his approach to the use of “ethos - credibility and trustworthiness and pathos - emotional appeal” (Driver, Gast, and Lowman-Thomas, 8). In his quote, he differentiates man and animals, where in his experiments revealed that man is the only animal that can insult and cause injuries. Mark Twain responds that animals are unable to make insults and they injure other animals as Mark Twain describes as, “the saving grace” (Twain, 3) which excuses predatory animals from injuring other animals in order to provide for their

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