Analysis Of Under The Loving Care Of The Fatherly Leader By Bradley K. Martin

In Bradley K. Martin’s novel, Under the Loving Care of the Fatherly Leader, North Korea and the Kim Dynasty, Martin is on a tour at North Korea with fellow journalists. He tells of his surprising experience with North Korean culture. In the first chapter, “To the City of the God-King,” Martin argues that North Korea depicts their leader to be “God-like.” He goes about describing his surroundings in descriptive detail in attempt to allow the reader to realistically visualize what he encounters. Martin is bothered by the propaganda North Korea uses. Inserts of a North Korean play he witnesses, described in his own details, are included sporadically to support Martin’s argument. With use of common knowledge of the historical background of North

Martin uses resilient words that establish many hyperboles. “…Exultant yet exquisitely agonizing groping…(Martin 21)” His exaggerations also permits many sarcastic remarks. As Martin finds that Kim is not only the country’s leader, but as well as the leading novelist, philosopher, historian, educator, etc., he jokes that the Great Leader’s “talents would have aroused the envy of a Leonardo da Vinci or Thomas Jefferson” (Martin 20). “…I might start giving thanks to the Great Leader at the beginning of each meal…(Martin 27)” He also says, “To hear the North Koreans talk, Kim must have made himself heir to the ancient Taoist magicians’ secrets for transcending time and space” (Martin 20). His humorous excerpts instill lightheartedness and amusement that allows exhibition of his comedic side. The choice of words Martin uses also effectively establishes his baffle with North Korea worshipping their leader. He presents words that emit certain connotations. “He celebrated, lavishly, his sixty-seventh birthday…(Martin 20)”. The reader inevitably responds “lavishly” with being wasteful or excessively. Martin chooses “lavishly” as suppose to the possibility of choosing words such as “grandly,” or “magnificently” that could have entirely allowed the sentence to project the same meaning. Not only did he particularly choose this connotation, Martin also emphasizes the word by adding commas around it. His dictions allow the emotional appeal of the sentence, as well as the reader, to alter. Personification is often identified intermittently throughout. “...Who could be more qualified to unfold a paradise…(Martin 20)” “Everyone sprinkled his speech…(Martin