Olivia Cischke Ms. Jeannotte English 10 27 January 2023 A World Wired Against Introverts - A Rhetorical Analysis of Susan Cain’s TED Talk Susan Cain, a former Wall Street lawyer and author of NY Times bestseller Quiet, gave a TED Talk in 2016 formulated to prove to her audience that, in our modern world, introverts are at a disadvantage, even discriminated against; she goes on to propose how this can be combated, referencing her own experience as an introvert in what she claims is a world wired against people like her. Through a masterful use of ethos and pathos, Cain tugs at her audience’s heartstrings, building a highly persuasive and effective argument throughout her presentation. Cain begins with a touching personal story, generating …show more content…
Firstly, near the end of her speech, Cain recalls her grandfather and the impact of his quiet life. Though this section is filled with moving diction and stirring pathos, it serves little purpose in the greater picture. It is nearly impossible to see how this story connects with her main point - an introvert’s struggles and how the world should strive to change this. Instead, it only serves to distract the listener, and detracts real meaning from the rest of her points. Another weakness is her obvious bias towards introverts. It is made clear throughout her speech that her opinions are not targeted against extroverts, but merely that her compassion lies with the quieter side of society. She makes this abundantly plain, disclosing, “Now at this point I think it’s important for me to say that I actually love extroverts. I always like to say some of my best friends are extroverts, including my beloved husband … what I’m saying is that culturally we need a much better balance. We need more of a yin and yang between these two types” (Cain). Although Cain does assure her audience that her bias does not extend to disliking extroverts, it is nearly impossible to hear the word “bias” without naturally assuming the worst - it is generally used in a negative