On The Duty Of Civil Disobedience Rhetorical Devices

Readers are only able to understand messages and information a writer provides through the effective use of rhetoric. Rhetoric is the basis of communication, and when used effectively, the communicator succeeds in sharing his ideas with others. A rhetor who creates connections with his reader can determine how to use rhetorical strategies to best convey ideas. By understanding the writer and reader connection and by using appropriate rhetorical strategies, the rhetor ably delivers effective and persuasive messages to his targeted audience.
Rhetoric is important when communicating as it permits readers to receive ideas in a way that is both convincing and effective. Rhetoric is of equal importance on both sides of a message’s exchange, be it

A commonly used rhetorical strategy is parallelism; it is the repetition of words, phrases or clauses that help readers follow opinions being shared. A parallel structure enables readers to remember important ideas that the writer wants to be accounted for. Henry David Thoreau, in his essay, “On the Duty of Civil Disobedience,” used parallel structures, such as in his writing; “This is hard. This makes it impossible for a man to live honestly” (218). His repeated use of “this” creates emphasis to what the pronoun refers, placing importance to his belief that one must not be dependent on the State’s protection. Parallelisms’ role in writing stresses the significance of an idea being shared. Similarly, antithesis also provides balance and clarifies ideas in writing like parallelism does (Taguchi). Antithesis adds solutions to opinions stated and acts as a harbinger to future ideas. It creates balance in text by counteracting ideas, and combining each idea into a uniform whole; “I ask for, not at once for no government, but at once a better government.” (Thoreau 211). Thoreau is suggesting that the government is not doing enough for it’s people and the government needs to improve. His proposal of two ideas that contrast each other draw attention to a solution he suggests. Rhetorical strategies in writing help readers better understand an intended message and allow acceptance in opinions by introducing ideas in a creative