Rhetorical Analysis Of Letter To Lord Orwin By Gandhi

Rebellions are often thought of as a tumultuous military style event. Gandhi shows that this is not always the case through his letter to Lord Orwin. Gandhi used non-violence to rebel against the British successfully, starting with his letter to Lord Orwin. Gandhi uses the rhetorical strategies of personal appeal, repetition, tone and comparison to peacefully explain why he must peacefully remove British colonialism in India.
Gandhi uses word repetition to emphasize the evils of British imperialism and his intent of peace. Gandu repeated evils (lines 29, 36, and 47) to emphasize his point about the truth about the nature of British colonialism and its effect on India.. First, “evils” (line 29) was used to describe the British actions of “greed”

Through Gandhi’s “desire” (line 63) to avoid “unnecessary embarrassment” (line 63), he demonstrates his compassion for the English which is best exemplified by his “equal love” (line 21) for the British and Indians. Beyond compassion, Gandi desires friendships between the two nations with “independence” (line 35) for India and “friendly negotiations” (line 32) once independence is reached. However, his tone also shows clear disgust for the “cruel monopoly” (line 56) from the British. Gandhi’s message of independence for India through non-violence was prevalent through both his tone of compassion and

Gandhi compares his morals to seeing, which were “blindly” (line 16) following the British until his morals “were opened” (line 17). When his morals were blinded, he could not see the harms of British imperialism. However, with the opening of his morals, he began to notice the harms of British Imperialism and fight for change He also draws the comparison between non-violence and a “weapon” (line 19). Weapons are associated with a rebellion and viewed as dangerous but capable of making change, and with the analogy. He then showed that like weapons non-violence can be used for change as well.Through analogies, Gandhi argues for a non-violence, moral, freeing or India.Lastly, Gandhi makes a personal appeal to Lord Orwin inorder to see change. Gandhi wanted to “appeal to” (line 48) Lord Orwin’s heart inorder to make sure that Lord Orwin didn’t “frustrate [Gandhi’s]... design by arresting” (line 57) Gandhi. Gandhi is acknowledging the authority of Lord Orwin, and showing his hope that Lord Orwin will do what is right, and not arrest Gandhi. Another reason was so that Lord Orwin may be able “to deal with these evils” (line 47) and Gandhi’s protest would not be necessary. Lastly, Gandhi shows his compassion as a personal appeal by wishing no “unnecessary embarrassment” (line 63 and 64) upon Lord Orwin. Through this Gandhi attempts to build an emotional attachment of compassion and reason so that Lord Orwin might listen to him.