Samuel Johnson Debtors Prison Rhetorical Techniques

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In an excerpt from “Debtors’ Prisons,” author Samuel Johnson uses many different rhetorical strategies to express his feelings on debtors’ prisons. One device that he uses is guilt, another is examples, and another is fact.

He uses guilt to make his audience feel sorry for those who are unfortunate enough to find themselves in a debtors’ prison. In lines 45 to 54, he describes how one’s life would be lived out in a debtors’ prison. He does not speak fondly of this prison which shows that he thinks they are a waste. He also writes of how debtors are treated, “A debtor is dragged to prison… caverns of oblivion,” lines 8 to 11. The way he talks about how debtors are seen in society gives off a condescending tone. He speaks of it as if he doesn’t

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