Rhetorical Analysis Of The Devil Take Tomorrow

“To His Excellency George Washington...”

A bit of a history buff myself, I can fairly say that after the first line of this novel I has hooked, drawn into the promising allure of a retake on the Revolutionary War. Set in sixteenth century America, Jeannette’s historical fiction novel largely follows the strenuous trials of the young Eathan Matlock. An intelligence agent for General George Washington of the Continental Army, Matlock is dispatched into the British-held city of Pennsylvania, with the mission of infiltrating the high ranking official headquarters following a threat upon Washington’s life. As he slithers up the ranks of the British army, Matlock gains information, taking risky measures to report information back to iris American

He steals his experience through bribes and reconstructs it.” (John le Carre) In relation to the author of The Devil Take Tomorrow, this quote proves to be exceptionally prevalent. One of the key aspects that I enjoyed about this novel was Jeannette’s writing style. She constructed the syntax and concepts in such a way that it felt as if the book was written in the 1700’s, with long, complex sentences teeming with imagery and pre-industrial diction. This style immersed the reader into the story, allowing them to walk the filthy Pennsylvania streets right along with Matlock, and smell the freedom on the wind as if they were standing beside General Travis. I also thoroughly enjoyed the historical accuracy and key themes that the author skillfully wove into the plot. To illustrate, Jeannette tied in the concepts of the British East India Company and the West Indies slave trade. She also touched on the idea of indentured serevants coming accords the ocean, fleeing persecution in England, working the lowest jobs in America. An important theme with which the author correlated into the story was the idea of social darwinsim. She demonstrated the presumptuous views of the British elite, believing themselves to be vastly superior to the lowly American-born

Though not written in first person, the author was still able to manufacture a link to the characters, preventing any kind of distatchment that can sometimes stem from a thrid person omniscient point of view. The character of Matlock, especially, left me as the reader on the edge of my seat at one moment, feeling heartbroken the next, and then laughing at one of his arrogant jokes. I was pleased with the plotline of the story, as it allowed for tension to be build, predictions to be made, and shock factors to be opened at the turn of each page. I felt as if I were absorbed wholly in the treachery, treason, and terror encompassed the fearful life of