We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. By continuing we’ll assume you’re on board with our cookie policy

Barbara Lazear Ascher Rhetorical Analysis

essay
The whole doc is available only for registered users

A limited time offer! Get a custom sample essay written according to your requirements urgent 3h delivery guaranteed

Order Now

Compassion is seen around the world. Or so it’s thought. Barbara Ascher questions whether or not compassion is real or if it’s driven by fear in her essay “On Compassion.” She takes an attitude that it is fear-driven, and tries to sway the reader to think as she does. Trying to sway the reader, Barbara Ascher starts her essay On Compassion with a story-like tone. This part of the essay feels fictional, and has very persistent diction. She uses words like “unwavering stare” and “eyes fix on the baby.” By doing this she makes the reader feel like the homeless man is consistent with his begging, like it’s an everyday routine. Also in this part of the essay she uses diction that makes the reader feel like the homeless man is almost unwilling to take the dollar that he was begging for. Ascher says that the lady was “growing impatient” and “finally” the man takes the money. After telling the story she throws in an anecdote to show that she has seen this personally. She stresses the fact that she has seen the same thing happen twice. Ascher shows that this isn’t just a one-time thing; it is more like a routine.

This makes the reader question if the story is really showing compassion, or if it’s just a daily routine like earlier in the essay. After she uses the anecdote she has a very subjective tone, and uses “I” and “we” often. Ascher includes her personal opinion on the matters going on in New York. Having a subjective tone provides ethos and gives the reader a reason to believe her thinking. To also make the reader question whether or not compassion is true act, Ascher uses rhetorical questions. She uses questions like, “Was it fear or compassion that motivated the gift?”, to make the reader really think about what she says on the idea of compassion. It’s also the placement of the rhetorical questions that help with their effectiveness. She places one in the middle of the essay to get the reader thinking and then again at the end to leave a ring in the readers mind.

Related Topics

We can write a custom essay

According to Your Specific Requirements

Order an essay
icon
300+
Materials Daily
icon
100,000+ Subjects
2000+ Topics
icon
Free Plagiarism
Checker
icon
All Materials
are Cataloged Well

Sorry, but copying text is forbidden on this website. If you need this or any other sample, we can send it to you via email.

By clicking "SEND", you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy. We'll occasionally send you account related and promo emails.
Sorry, but only registered users have full access

How about getting this access
immediately?

Your Answer Is Very Helpful For Us
Thank You A Lot!

logo

Emma Taylor

online

Hi there!
Would you like to get such a paper?
How about getting a customized one?

Can't find What you were Looking for?

Get access to our huge, continuously updated knowledge base

The next update will be in:
14 : 59 : 59