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Rhetorical Essay

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Rhetorical Essay
Cierra Washington September 30, 2013
Mr.Currie “The Company Man” Essay

Ellen Goodman’s attitude toward Phil in “The Company Man” seems to be frustration and disappointment. She explains how Phil, the main subject practically worked himself to death. He was a “workaholic,” meaning he put his work above anything and anyone, even his wife and children. This explains Goodman’s disappointment towards Phil because he let work take over his life and force him to push away his loved ones and close family members. The author expresses frustration by writing in the passage that Phil let work cause him to work himself to death finally and precisely. The obituary said that he had died from coronary thrombosis, which is a blockage of the flow of blood to the heart, caused by a blood clot in a coronary artery. Everyone who was close to him knew that instantly because of their knowing of Phil personally. Phil was a fifty one year old vice president who never stopped working, even on his off days. On the day he died, that Sunday was supposed to be his off day but he was still working. Goodman uses description to describe and explain how Phil worked himself to death. She stated that he was vice president at his company, he had no outside extracurricular interests, and how he worked like the Important People. Goodman also uses contrast and comparison to explain her attitude toward Phil as a working man. She compares Phil to his friends and acquaintances by stating that after Phil died, his friends and close ones began to think for five or ten minutes about how they were living their lives. They may have been going at the same rate as Phil, so after they seen him put to death by working, they began to think about how much they work and how they can avoid dying due to work. Goodman also uses

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