Rhetorical Analysis Of The Devil In The White City
The Devil in the White City Dialectical Journal #1
“Events and people captured his attention the way moving objects caught the notice of an amphibian: first a machinelike registration of proximity, next a calculation of worth, and last a decision to act or remain motionless” (Larson 37).
Erik Larson uses clinical diction to describe to the reader how Holmes mechanically functions and how he perceives the world. The use of the phrase “a decision to act or remain motionless” creates an impression of a primal creature- such as an “amphibian”- on the prowl instead of a person, making the audience question Holme’s humanity. The use of the word “objects” in comparison with people gives the audience a feeling of emptiness and detachment. This feeling …show more content…
The lack of conjunctions allows the audience to read with speed, giving the effect of a rushed and hurried feeling further driving the tone. By using extreme words such as “maddening” and “absurd,” Larson emphasizes the excessiveness of the delay. By saying the board is “unaware” of the pressing issues, he implies that the board is ignorant and naive. “Hoped” and “risked” add to the overall feeling of uncertainty felt by Burnham, pushing the readers to the edges of their seats. The feeling of restlessness and agitation is clearly expressed throughout the passage with Larson’s use of unsettling word choice and fast-paced …show more content…
The use of “wind-blown” implies that Holmes did not outwardly seek this attention from women; rather, it was thrust upon him. The natural way Holmes attracts women helps to describe his attractiveness and gives a better understanding of his physical appearance. “Fresh” and “crisp” give off a sense of cleanliness in a place where filth was overwhelming explaining one of the factors of why women flocked to him. The audience has been confronted with many negative descriptions of Holmes and this account of his charming attribute helps the reader fully develop an impression of Holmes. The women that fell for Holmes did so solely on his outside appearance, they were not aware of the truly disturbing thoughts going on his head; essentially, these women fell in a beautifully decorated
“Events and people captured his attention the way moving objects caught the notice of an amphibian: first a machinelike registration of proximity, next a calculation of worth, and last a decision to act or remain motionless” (Larson 37).
Erik Larson uses clinical diction to describe to the reader how Holmes mechanically functions and how he perceives the world. The use of the phrase “a decision to act or remain motionless” creates an impression of a primal creature- such as an “amphibian”- on the prowl instead of a person, making the audience question Holme’s humanity. The use of the word “objects” in comparison with people gives the audience a feeling of emptiness and detachment. This feeling …show more content…
The lack of conjunctions allows the audience to read with speed, giving the effect of a rushed and hurried feeling further driving the tone. By using extreme words such as “maddening” and “absurd,” Larson emphasizes the excessiveness of the delay. By saying the board is “unaware” of the pressing issues, he implies that the board is ignorant and naive. “Hoped” and “risked” add to the overall feeling of uncertainty felt by Burnham, pushing the readers to the edges of their seats. The feeling of restlessness and agitation is clearly expressed throughout the passage with Larson’s use of unsettling word choice and fast-paced …show more content…
The use of “wind-blown” implies that Holmes did not outwardly seek this attention from women; rather, it was thrust upon him. The natural way Holmes attracts women helps to describe his attractiveness and gives a better understanding of his physical appearance. “Fresh” and “crisp” give off a sense of cleanliness in a place where filth was overwhelming explaining one of the factors of why women flocked to him. The audience has been confronted with many negative descriptions of Holmes and this account of his charming attribute helps the reader fully develop an impression of Holmes. The women that fell for Holmes did so solely on his outside appearance, they were not aware of the truly disturbing thoughts going on his head; essentially, these women fell in a beautifully decorated