Joan Didion uses rhetorical words in her essay “Morality,” to explain her reasons why she viewed morality as social, and established expectation. Didion starts her essay, by presenting emotional appeals to her particular setting. “As it happens, I am in Death Valley, in a room at the Enterprise Motel and Trailer Park, and it is July, and it is hot (Didion 106).” The significance in describing the setting is that it helps create a tone, such that it, evokes emotions of isolation, despair, and loneliness. After describing her setting, Didion states, “A word I distrust more every day, but in my mind veers inflexibility toward the particular (Didion 106).” In this phrase, Didion is introducing her claim that she does not trust the definition of morality. To support her claims, …show more content…
Didion then claims that morality is a “social code”. The usage of the “social code” makes the interpretation of morality, once again, have a negative connotation. The word “social code” implies that morality is not an individual perception, but a social expectation. Then, Didion states her observation that many elders come to live in desert valley to “sing a prayer”. She states, “I cannot hear them and do not want to. What I can hear are occasional coyotes and constant chorus of “Baby the Rain Must Fall” from the jukebox. (Didion 108)” In this reference, Didion is making a figurative connection between the difference in sounds and morality. The ability of not being able to hear the elders sing a prayer may refer to a lack of conformity to the social code. Thus, she references, that she can only hear “Baby the Rain Must Fall”, which was a rock and roll song, that seems to symbolize unconformity, and independence from the social code. Throughout, her essay Didion viewed morality as a principle that is not controlled by self-growth, but by social
The style of this essay seemed to be very informal from essays I previously had read. Yet, author John DeVore gave it his personal touch. For instance, “Unless we’re talking Taco Bell. Which I will talk about, at length, even if you haven’t asked a question that has anything to do with Taco Bell.” After reading that quote I knew that in his essay he would bring forth his personality.
“A Triumph for Moral Authority,” by Isabel Hilton was published in an issue of the Independent (November 15, 2010) as part of the opinion column. This work discusses the impact of a protester’s moral authority and what kind of change (if any) it may lead to. It gives a look into what the possible outcomes may result because of activist actions. The article addressing moral authority by Isabel Hilton is astonishing and very informative due to the author’s ability to present well-structured ideas for each paragraph along with a strong and appropriate use of evidence.
From the time in which justice and order was enforced by governing figures, man has struggled with the conflict of balancing freedom and protection. Often times, those who seek answers to the disorderly find solace within religious beliefs; they find protection and answers to questions of security, where an omnipotent being took reign and watched over one’s life. However, when applied to governing forces, these laws based off religious beliefs regulating certain actions and desires restrict freedom. In The Scarlet Letter and The Crucible, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Arthur Miller argue that conscience should supersede religion. Hawthorne, the author of The Scarlet Letter uses pathos to enforce this claim; whereas Arthur Miller argues the same claim using logos in his book The Crucible.
1. Do you agree with Didion’s claim that self-respect has nothing to do with the approval of others? Yes I agree with Didion’s claim that “self-respect has nothing to do with the approval of others.” I believe if we’re only seeking approval of others then we aren’t actually respecting ourselves.
Prose Analysis Essay In Ann Petry’s The Street, the urban setting is portrayed as harsh and unforgiving to most. Lutie Johnson, however, finds the setting agreeable and rises to challenges posed by the city in order to achieve her goals. Petry portrays this relationship through personification, extended metaphor, and imagery.
(48). She goes on to explain that other virtues can supersede benevolence, which provides proof that benevolence is not the ultimate end. “We find in our ordinary moral code many requirements and prohibitions inconsistent with the idea that benevolence is the whole of morality.” (48). If benevolence is not the overall end of morality, but instead the end of one virtue within morality, then it cannot be the basis for morality as a
According to this these lines, it becomes obvious that Charmaine starts to express her feeling with the words, very uncommon for her upbringing. Evidently, these words, as well as her feelings contradict to her moral standards set in the family. Therefore, Charmaine is embarrassed of and at the same time amused by her own behavior. So in this sense, the family discourse serves as the tool for formation of the protagonist’s morality and personality and is a vivid example of power relations in the private spectrum of individual’s life. At the same time, this discourse turns into a certain moral code, a certain ideology that Charmaine refers to during the whole novel.
(1). He uses the rhetorical device of figurative language to give the reader a strong image of his feeling
Rhetorical Analysis Rhetoric Analysis 1 “Wild Geese” by Mary Oliver is a poem about letting things go and appreciating just how simple and beautiful life is. Oliver claims that “You do not have to be good…” and that you only have to “love what [you] love…” meaning that as human being one should enjoy life and live it how he or she sees fit. Oliver continues her poem by convincing the reader that life should not be taken too seriously. By re-using the word, “meanwhile…”Oliver let’s the reader know that not only their life is going on at a particular time, but also other’s lives are shifting through time as well.
Rachels and Benedict disagree about how relative is morality.in one hand Rachels express that morality is not relative, because from his point of view what is right or wrong cannot be based in one society code; it is clear that what is approved in one culture can be disapproved in other, so there is no absolute true nor a single standard to follow. Rachels state that there are some moral rules that all societies will have in common, because those rules are necessary for society to exist. According to this he think that there is some universal codes that have to be maintain for a healthy balance. Benedict in the other hand believes that morality is relative.
However, it can be encouraged to mould one’s decisions and actions and sometimes an entire ideology towards life. Similarly, moral development can be encouraged as ethical behavior. Such deliberate actions to teach ethics affects and renovates ones individual behavior as well as of those concerned. Erin Brockovich was a brave lady, who was a single mother to three infants; no source of income yet firm on her beliefs, an influencer to those who needed a push to revitalize their moral and ethical believes. Her actions in the early stages were drawn towards the Ethics of Care principle, which later were subjected under the Utilitarian principle, as per which she first, determined the ethical nature of dilemma and then further on influenced others to believe so.
It is important to understand that different tones are created to support different themes, as revealed through both Rowlandson’s and Erdrich’s texts. Through specific diction, an author can achieve a captivating tone which will support the message the author is trying to communicate. Words alone are powerful, as they hold immeasurable value and meaning capable of leaving a lasting
Baier also touches on the justice perspective and discusses the “inadequate” as a moral theory. This shows inequalities between people, it has an unrealistic view of freedom of choice, and it ignores the importance of moral emotions such as love. However, she also says that the best moral theory, she claims, is one that harmonizes justice and care. She goes on to also explain the theory of moral development which has two dimensions. First is to aim at achieving satisfying community with others and the second is to aim at autonomy or equality of power.
Although Walter eventually does the morally correct thing he still has bad morals. Walter does the right thing by standing up to Lindner. When Lindner actually arrives and Walter is about to disgrace himself and the black community by begging Lindner for the money he can’t do it. Instead he says, “We don’t want to make no trouble for nobody or fight no causes, and we will try to be good neighbors.
The Scarlet Letter, a novel written by Nathaniel Hawthorne in 1850, functions as an evaluation of Puritan ideas, customs, and culture during the 17th century. Through this evaluation, we can get a good idea of what core values and beliefs the Puritans possessed, as well as the actions they take in cases of adversity brought about by “sinners”. Some Puritan virtues created stark divisions between groups of people, some of which led to discrimination under certain circumstances. One of the most prominent of these is the treatment and standards of men and women, a concept that surfaced during some of the major points in The Scarlet Letter. The divisions that were created by Puritan standards of men and women played a great role in shaping the plot of The Scarlet Letter, determining the fate of many of the characters.