Rhetorical Analysis Of Jonathan Edwards

Edwards uses several examples of literary devices to convince his audience that if they are not doing as he says then they will go to hell.
Jonathan Edwards uses imagery because he believes showing his audience what awaits them in hell will make them be pure. He knows this will work on his audience because he knows they are all very afraid of going to hell when they die, so he tells them that is where they are going to go if they do not listen to him. He uses pathos as another scare tactic to convince them they if they continue putting off what they are supposed to do they will definitely go to hell.
Jonathan tells them that god would have no problem plucking them up and dropping them straight into hell at that very moment, but he chooses not to, so why not honor
him? He uses imagery to further terrify them with mental pictures of someone they love damning them to the most horrible place they could ever possibly go. Pathos is used again to solidify their fear and pushing them to listen to him. He uses fear rather than any other emotion because he understands that fear is the best emotion, and easiest emotion, to manipulate and take advantage of. Edwards use of fear-inducing phrases, metaphors, similes, imagery, and many other literary devices has the only
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intention of making his audience do what he says is right and what he says should be done to get into heaven.
Jonathan uses a metaphor to make his audience believe that god hates them for not doing as he said and ignoring his requests to that point. He compares unbaptised sinners to disgusting loathsome insects that god has no issue dropping into the pit of hell. He describes them as insects he would gladly drop into hellfire and see nothing of it, further persuading them to accept christ. He uses pathos to terrify them into doing what he says will “save” them. He keeps using pathos and fear knowing that will motivate them most. His knowledge of who he is speaking to informs him that the way he uses all of his literary devices directly plays on his audience's fears and insecurities on whether they will be going to heaven or not. Their beliefs are what truly persuade them to listen and do exactly as Edwards says. He uses their own beliefs and natural fear reactions against them.
In conclusion, Jonathan Edwards knew exactly what he was doing and he knew exactly how to manipulate his audience to do exactly what he tells them to. Edwards knows how to properly use every literary device in this sermon and although several devices were used repeatedly I never noticed and repetition or deja vu while reading
it.