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How Does Vonnegut Use Ethos In You Have Received Me

Decent Essays

The author’s purpose in the letter “You Have Insulted Me”, by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., is to persuade the school board to reinstate his book by using the rhetorical techniques ethos, pathos, and logos. First, Vonnegut embeds ethos into his letter when he writes, “I have six children...They have all turned out well” (Vonnegut 3). This is an example of ethos because the author is referencing his parenthood to validate his discretion. Vonnegut recognizes his successful children to affirm that Vonnegut understands the boundaries associated with school appropriateness. Next, pathos is applied when Vonnegut says, “Again: you have insulted me, and I am a good citizen, and I am very real” (Vonnegut 5). This quote represents pathos by ingraining emotion

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