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Rhetorical Analysis : Examining The Reputation Of Jack Columbus

Decent Essays

Columbus Rhetorical Analysis

Jack Weatherford in his essay “Examining the Reputation of Christopher Columbus” proposes the idea that Columbus was not the person who people believe to have accomplished all the things we were told about him at a young age. Weatherford's determination and his persuasiveness can be seen with his use of emotional diction, fluid tone, and the logos juxtaposition of Columbus’s events with others. Weatherford begins to convey his argument in the introduction by stating that Columbus's reputation was already ruined due to his actions and people can’t look the other way from the truth. Weatherford says that Columbus was not seen as such a great person: “Native Americans had built great civilizations with many millions of people long before Columbus wandered lost into the Caribbean.” Weatherford emphasises his point by using strong negative diction whenever describing Columbus and the falseness that was spread around him. Weatherford also addresses all the wrong in the time period as if Columbus was the only reason it happened. His negative connotation “Unable, Contrary to popular legend, and less meaning” were all describing the wrong that Columbus has issued. His repetitiveness throughout the piece will automatically make the reader believe that his statement must be true because of how strongly he believes in it. Weatherford truly believes that Columbus Day should be changed to something that actually defines who we are as a country. Weatherford's also uses pathos as a way to convey his argument to the reader. Especially in the opening paragraph when Weatherford assumes that the reader grew up learning how Christopher Columbus “discovered” America, and how he lived peacefully with the Native Americans. Weatherford uses this and demonstrates how Columbus did nothing that people thought he pioneered: “Columbus’s voyage has less meaning for the North America that for South America because he never set foot in our continent, nor did he open it to European trade.” It is portrayed to the reader that Weatherford can keep discussing the wrong that Christopher Columbus did. He does this in the way he construct his essay by having some sort of connection with everything. Weatherford speaks

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