Question 2 In Samuel Johnson’s letter which denies a woman’s request for her son to receive patronage to a university, he essentially creates a well-crafted argument against speaking to the archbishop of Canterbury for the woman and provides strong support in order to backup his decision. Accordingly, Johnson’s denial to the woman’s request is constructed by the use of definition of terms, specifically chosen diction, and the appeals to logic. With these particular rhetorical devices, Johnson’s reasons as to why he denied the woman’s request is able to be successfully conveyed. At the beginning of the letter, Johnson is already able to guess the feelings that the woman contains, which can be interpreted as hope. Johnson defines the word …show more content…
hope as “a species of happiness, and, perhaps, the chief happiness which this world affords: but like all other pleasures immoderately enjoyed.” He then further explains that “the excesses of hope must be expiated by pain,” and that “expectations improperly indulged, must end in disappointment.” When Johnson defines hope and describes it as something that can be taken away, he does this in order to prepare the woman for his upcoming statement of denying the request. Instead of Johnson stating his refusal to the woman’s straight forward, he uses definition in order to put in a more indirect approach to his denial. Throughout the letter, Johnson uses specifically chosen diction in order to craft his denial for the request and express it to the woman.
In the letter, Johnson makes use of the word “I” as well as “madame” many times. In paragraph two, it is very clear Johnson is purposely using the word “I” when he writes “There is no reason why, amongst all the great, I should chuse* to supplicate the Archbishop.” He then later on says “If I could help you in this exigence by any proper means, it would give me pleasure.” Johnson extensively uses “I” in order to imply that he would like to kindly help the woman, but the guilt of anything should not apply to him. Another particular word Johnson purposely uses is “madam.” In the second paragraph, the word “madam” is also used a noticeably many times. Johnson starts the paragraph by writing “When you made your request to me, you should have considered, Madam, what you were asking.” He later on then writes “I know, Madam, how unwillingly conviction is admitted.” Johnson, instead of using the name of the woman who sent the request, addresses her as “madam.” By doing this, it can be assumed that Johnson does not really consider the woman worthy of consideration due to the extent of her “remote” request. Other from this, the word is also used to convey to the woman that she was in the wrong the whole time, and that Johnson cannot be blamed for any wrongs in the making of his …show more content…
decision. Aside from the evident uses of definition and diction, Johnson uses strong logical reasoning.
By the using logical appeals, Johnson’s argument can be seen as completely supported. In the second paragraph, Johnson writes “You ask me to solicit a great man, to whom I never spoke, for a young person whom I had never seen, upon a supposition which I had no means of knowing to be true.” He then later on writes that the “proposal is so very remote from usual methods, that I cannot comply with it, but at the risk of such answer and suspicions as I believe you do not wish me to undergo.” Johnson reasons that the woman is basically asking him to believe whatever she tells him in her request, which is that the son is a great young man. Johnson counters the woman by saying he has “never seen” the son and he “had no means of knowing” the claims “to be true.” Near the ending of the letter, Johnson makes sure the woman knows the “proposal is so very remote from usual methods,” and that it would not be in her best interests to give Johnson bad “suspicions” about her claims. The use of logics in the explanation for the denial of the request allows the woman to recognize that she had mistakes in asking Johnson for help with the
son. The use of definition, carefully chosen diction, and logical reasoning allow Johnson to help the woman recognize that she was wrong in requesting help from Johnson from the start, further throwing off any blame for the denial. Definition essentially allowed Johnson to prepare the woman for denial, the diction implied that the fault actually of the woman, and logical reasoning allowed a strong support to the explanation of the denial of the request. In conclusion, Johnson crafted a sturdy letter of denial which allowed the mother to understand her mistakes and also accept the refusal, Johnson being at no fault.
In closing, Kemp--and I must agree with her-- adamantly stressed that Franklin sent the Hutchinson/Oliver letters, though it was a lack of judgment, in order to calm the storm. Which was a mistake, at least in my view. As Kemp states,”If anything, Franklin’s fundamental error was the direct result of his emotional attachment to the Empire and of his naive assumption that men more sympathetic to the colonies might yet rise to positions of power in England.” (Kemp, 94). In her next two chapters Kemp largely focused on the internal insecurities of the British Government, and the ramifications of the Cockpit incident.
Initially, Johnson predicts the mothers awaiting emotion towards the letter: hope. Johnson prefers to define the term hope as an “ pleasure immoderately enjoyed” and as an “expectation immoderately indulged”to make a clear indication that she had hoped for too much. The use of definition allows the reader to make a connection and accept the final rejection on her own rather than being able to directly place blame on Johnson. Johnson is able to be obvious in intent and meaning, the indirect connection of regret and hope allows Johnson to let the mother down easily than if he had been more direct and said the true meaning. The use of definition allows the writer to distance himself from the action of rejection.
Samuelson’s writing style is very informative, but he delivers his information in a brusque, rough way that makes the facts difficult to absorb. Samuelson writes the way others argue or yell- practically shouting the information, as if
John Downe emigrated from England to the United States in 1830. Then he wrote a letter back to his wife trying to convince her to join him. He utilized many different strategies to ensure his letter was compelling, many more than one might expect in a letter to a family member. The rhetorical strategies employed ranged from simple hyperboles and understatements to the formal concession and refutation.
Showing that, not everything that is legal is fair and just, and that people have a responsibility to go against these unjust laws.... ... middle of paper ... ... He uses this letter in order to persuade the clergymen to understand his reasons for all the above.
In the letter, Abigail Adams, informs her daughter about how she likes the White house. But throughout it she shows her daughter how she reacts with her new surroundings. She acts spoiled and she complains.
Johnson had become a member of their family. Losing him was like losing a son. Joe Robert had taken on the role of father figure already but “The Telegram” marks the point where he really begins to grow up and look at life as an adult. Loss and grief are inevitable parts of life and they jolt Joe Robert into awareness. At first he resists the news just like the rest of the family does but one by one they come to accept it. The book says Cora took it the hardest but the grief of losing Johnson stays with Joe Robert for some time. The Kirkmans never once blame Joe Robert for Johnson’s
From a very early age, perhaps the age of six or seven, I realized that I enjoyed disputing things. As I grew older, I attempted to curb this tendency, since I thought it might negatively impact people’s views of me, but I never intended to stamp it out, as it was too integral to my nature.
Forthright emotions are not necessary in this piece for the reader to connect, understand, or empathize with the plot. Johnson created a character who clearly has emotions, but chooses to safeguard them for a realistic feeling and the ability to concentrate on the more important purpose of the novel: to expose the difficulties a man with dual identity may face in a time period determined on separating and segregating who he is. Detached and emotionless, in this well-crafted and well-thought-out scenario, expresses more emotion and creates a more realistic novel than a complex examination of his inner feelings may have
John Locke is considered one of the best political minds of his time. The modern conception of western democracy and government can be attributed to his writing the Second Treatise of Government. John Locke championed many political notions that both liberals and conservatives hold close to their ideologies. He argues that political power should not be concentrated to one specific branch, and that there should be multiple branches in government. In addition to, the need for the government to run by the majority of the population through choosing leaders, at a time where the popular thing was to be under the rule of a monarch. But despite all of his political idea, one thing was extremely evident in his writing. This was that he preferred limited
Although the Tenure of Office Act that got Andrew Johnson impeached was unconstitutional, this does not mean that he did not deserve to get impeached. Johnson was not a good president because he let personal issues of revenge on aristocrats and viewpoints of slavery blind him. Johnson would also have a stubborn personality that did not aid him in his path for reconstruction against the radical republicans. He would let feelings get in the way of his reason that made him the only president to be forced out of office due to breaking a law that he knowingly deified and would end in his demise igniting “ridicule” by the American people (H.A. Tompkins).
First of all i would like to start with what this letter made me feel, i dont like reading much but this letter didnt have a single sentence which doesnt make me laugh, a beautiful way of insulting someone without using harsh words. which is showing someone his/her true face. the satire way of writing made it perfect to convey the message without showing any insolence. What appears to be an innocent letter is, in reality, one laden with sarcasm to disguise Jourdon Anderson’s disgust with his former master. In the opening paragraph, for example, he declares, “I have often felt uneasy about you.” The use of the word “uneasy” is not only a euphemism but also meiosis at its finest. Although Jourdon remains polite in his derision, he explicitly contrasts his time in the Confederate South to his
First of all, Johnson uses personal anecdote in order to appeal to the reader's emotions. In discussing
An issue that has remained debatable since the Jackson litigation was what ought to be the ultimate controlling factor in the British constitution: parliamentary sovereignty or the rule of law. This essay sets out to consider the reputedly irreconcilable tension between the two fundamental constitutional principles by analysing the extensive obiter dicta in Jackson and relating it to judicial review which upholds the rule of law. The contention of this essay is that despite the courts' deferential attitude towards the sovereignty of the laws of Parliament, the rule of law may potentially gain dominance and surpass parliamentary sovereignty to become the ultimate controlling factor in the British constitution.
An individual does not make a community, and a community does not make a society. In order to have a functioning and prosperous society, one must relinquish some free will in return for protection. According to John Stuart Mill’s On Liberty, there are certain rights of the individual which the government may never possess. Centuries after the publication of Mill’s Essay, the court case Gonzales v. O Centro Espirita Beneficente Uniao do Vegeta l , 546 U.S. 418 (2006) challenged the protective role of government against the free exercise of religion. In this instance, Mill would agree with the court ruling because, like his views concerning free exercise of will, government restriction and majority rule, both the court ruling and Mill’s ideals are concerned for the best interests of the individual rather than for the greater good of society.