The Rhetorical Analysis of Eliza Stacey’s 1847 Letter to Edward Stacy Who wouldn’t pity a poor, pregnant mother whose husband has been unfairly arrested for a debt he shouldn’t have to pay? Eliza Stacey is between a rock and a hard place and knows that her only hope is her wealthy father-in-law. In Eliza Stacey's 1847 letter, Stacey employs emotional appeals causing the tone of the letter to be solemn and dire as well as utilizing rhetorical questions to entice her father-in-law (Edward Stacey) that he must, once again, bail her family out of debt. Eliza Stacey sets the tone of her letter by describing the traumatic situation of how George was ripped away from her family: “You can imagine my distress and tears, and poor George was distraught …show more content…
She uses the word “survive” to give off a sense of urgency. The word “survive” has a dark connotation. She could have chosen “persevere” or other synonyms that have more positive connotations. However, now that George is gone, she is portraying herself as a poor, helpless, single mother. She continues to wistfully question: “We made the bedroom into a convenient lumber room. George and I fixed next week to put it again in order for my use during my approaching sickness. How can I now do it?” The Stacey home is in complete and utter chaos, and there is nothing Eliza Stacey can do. She is late into her pregnancy and struggling to move, and there is no way for her to fix the bedroom by herself. Her use of rhetorical questions: “How can I survive?” and “How can I now do it?” allows Edward Stacey to put himself in her position. These questions paint Eliza as a pitiful invalid who is at the mercy of the