Rhetorical Analysis Of Secret Skin Chaubon

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In the essay “Secret Skin: An Essay in Unitard Theory,” Chabon explores the fantasy world of superheroes and how they manifest personal transformations for many people, and the profound impacts of superhero attire on self-identity. Drawing on personal anecdotes and emotional language, he examines the powerful transformative effects of storytelling through this medium. This rhetorical analysis aims to analyze the effective use of the rhetorical strategies used to convey his argument, exploring the significance of his use of personal anecdotes, emotional language, the structure of the essay, as well as his counter-arguments presented in his essay.

Chabon's anecdotes help build his credibility and personal connection to the reader, such as his …show more content…

The use of personal anecdotes allows for readers to relate to him allowing for pathos, and ethos to be established, as the sense of authenticity and relatability helps connection between the writer and the reader to form. The use of allusions or references to superheroes helps strengthen the emotional bond further as he taps into the reader’s existing knowledge and experiences making them feel prideful of their knowledge, furthermore, it also highlights the cultural significance of superhero culture, the narratives, and morals that the stories teach, emphasizing a logical perspective. By projecting himself as knowledgeable and relatable in the essay it builds credibility and a foundation of trust to be formed. Moreover, the audience was well targeted to an older, more educated audience as the concepts and critical thinking are required to understand the essay allowing for the writer to communicate appropriately and effectively. Finally, the essay's structure enables a thorough examination of the topic, as the readers are led through Chabon’s thought process, and the main argument is reinforced by the flow of ideas that result from the progression of personal anecdotes, and general observations about superhero costumes. Therefore, the effective use of the rhetorical strategies implemented promotes the likelihood of persuading the reader to agree with his argument and trust the information