Rhetorical Analysis Of Origin Of Species By Charles Darwin

Origen Essay

In 1859 Charles Darwin shocked the world as he wrote about Natural selection and his theory of evolution in his book Origin of Species. To convince people of his points, Darwin used the audience to his advantage. By writing in first person, Darwin included the reader in his work. This was accompanied by a logical analysis of the world around him and a tone of extreme confidence to solidify Darwin's work to be held in the reader's mind as fact. Darwin's rhetorical skills are what has made his theory so popular and one of the reasons his work is highly read today.

In Darwin's conclusion, he heavily uses his rhetorical tools in order to give the reader confidence in his theory. In the last paragraph on Page 456, he starts right off

the bat using ethos to boost his theory. His beginning sentence reads “ A grand and almost untrodden field of inquiry will be opened....”(italics added). The words in italics show how Darwin is trying to paint this beautiful picture that his theory will create a beautiful field of science. People will want to support Darwin's idea if they get this happy image that a new and incredible science is being created. He also then uses his word choice to boost his tone of confidence. Darwin says that the study of his evolution “will rise immensely in value”. This shows that Darwin believes that his theory is true and will be highly researched in the science community. This belief in something that hasn't even been thoroughly researched shows how Darwin has extreme confidence in his idea. Darwin's conclusion gives one final push for the reader's acceptance as the last pages are packed with rhetorical techniques.
Darwin pulls the audience in with his first-person writing style.

While this allows the reader to be more personal with Darwin as they hear his ideas from his perspective and point of view, the use of first person benefits Darwin even more as he can use it to pull the audience into his work. On his 457 page, in his second paragraph, Darwin pulls his audience in by not using the "I" pronoun, but the "we" pronoun. When talking about similarities in species he says that “we can feel assured” in the factuality of evolution and that animals have originated from the same species. (italics added) Darwin could have used the I pronoun, but instead chooses to use the we pronoun because it involves the reader in his idea. Not only is Darwin supporting his ideas, but the reader is now supporting the idea as well because they are included in “we”. Darwin mixes his first person with pathos as seen above in the lines “we shall surely be enabled to trace in an admirable manner” the roots of parent species. (italics added) Darwin is pushing the reader that it is not just him finding his theory to be correct, but the reader also will “surely” be able to support Darwin's theory. This writing style adds to Darwin's tone of confidence, as without any research done by others, he fully believes all the answers to his theory will be discovered. Darwin does give a logical reasoning for his confidence, however. In the third paragraph, on page 457, Darwin logically sets up the needed research that

should be done to fully prove his theory. While this is only theoretical, it is interpreted logically in the reader's mind as proof in Darwin's theory because all the evidence is there, it just needs to be discovered. The is one of Darwin's great tools, when he gets to a problem in his theory he uses his writing tools to make it appear that there is a simple solution that just has not been discovered. This is evident in paragraph three where he tries to logically set up a solution to the holes in his theory. Darwin's simple solution is to fix the “imperfection” in the Geological record. While this sounds simple, it will actually take the discovery of every fossil for there to be a perfect geological record. Darwin's writing style covers this detail flawlessly as he uses his tone of confidence and his use of the reader to bypass the problems in his theory and shift focus to his strong points.
Darwin finishes his 460 page book with a pathos heavy ending.

Darwin’s final words are “whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved.” This does a lot for supporting his idea. It first creates ethos with Darwin’s theory as evolution is just like gravity, as it has been continuing since the beginning of the world. Gravity is an undisputed law of science, and by Darwin using gravity in comparison to evolution, he makes evolution appear as a scientific law just like gravity. Adding on to this, Darwin's word choice of “beautiful” and “wonderful” create images of beautiful animals and life all inspired by evolution. It is a powerful ending to a highly controversial book. Darwin’s ending paints an image and creates an idea that no one would want to

dispute.
It is these rhetorical techniques that Darwin used to create and sell his book. Today his ideas are taught in all public schools and is regarded as highly factual. Darwin's word choice and tone of confidence transferred into the reader's mind and his logic made people believe in his book as the solution to the source of all life.