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Patricia Marquardt

9 July 2023

Rhetorical Analysis

Successful Rhetorical Devices Implemented by Rachel Carson

Rachel Carson’s essay “The Obligation to Endure”, is an excerpt from her book, Silent Spring

(782). “The Obligation to Endure” surrounds environmental issues, especially chemical

pesticides, which was such a powerful argument that a change was made to the government’s

course of action (Carson 780). In the year 1962, Carson’s influential book was published (780).

Rachel Carson expresses her belief that nature is corrupted by man through his actions by using

powerful word choices, personification, and organization to bring about a sense of pathos and

logos.

Powerful word choices are very evident throughout Carson’s essay. These powerful word

choices can be found in the second paragraph of the excerpt when Carson mentions “past quarter

century”. Instead of just saying the past twenty-five years, Carson decides to write the word

‘century’ which makes the reader think that this problem has been happening for an extensive

time. The word ‘century’ unconsciously lengthens the time imagined by the reader. This word

choice makes the reader feel ashamed that their own kind, man, has always sought power

without caring for the world around him. Furthermore, in paragraph 3, Carson mentions “eons of

time” which by using the word ‘eons’ makes the time seem like eternity. Eons is synonymous to

billions of years. It makes people think of an era when people did not exist; the big bang or the

dinosaurs era. Rewinding the timeline in one’s mind is an extensive journey. Adding the word
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‘eons’ causes the reader that once argued that nature was once dangerous but made safe by time;

to feel defeated and hopeless in their everlasting wait.

Along with words that contain the power to extend time, Carson also elaborates on the

meaning of well-known words with specific examples. In paragraph 6, Carson expands on the

single word “pests”. She reminds the readers that “insects, weeds, rodents, and other organisms”

fall under this category (Carson 6). Being told that there are multiple types of pests could make

the reader feel guilty for being the killer of many things if they used those chemicals in the past.

In paragraph 7, Carson argues that “they should not be called “insecticides,” but “biocides.”

Carson again corrects the meaning of a common word. She lets the reader know that the object is

more destructive and extensive than the name suggests. That causes the reader to easily grasp the

idea of what insecticides actually are; biocides would probably be the subsequent word that pops

up in their mind when they hear the word insecticide.

In addition to using memorable words, Carson uses personification to describe the contrasting

traits between man and nature. In paragraph 4, Carson describes man as “impetuous and

heedless” while describing nature as “deliberate”. By making this comparison, Carson humbles

the reader to let them know they are not as wise as nature. In paragraph 1, Carson points out that

“one species – man – acquired significant power to alter the nature of his world.” Readers are

reminded that power does not make them wise. In paragraph 2, Carson states, “alchemy of air

and sunlight”. Alchemy is a magical process that creates something new. Using that word to

describe the action of what nature does increases its power and capability.

Besides her clever use of words, Carson also keeps readers engaged with how she organizes

her essay. At the end of paragraph 4, Carson repeats her first sentence, “The rapidity of change

and the speed…pace of man rather than the deliberate pace of nature” within a blue box. By
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doing this Carson, emphasizes what she thinks is the most significant evidence in her essay thus

far. It compels the reader to reflect on man’s deficits compared to nature. In paragraph 11, Carson

introduces rhetorical questions like “All this has been risked – for what?”. This causes the reader

to ponder everything that they read before the start of paragraph 11 and decide if they still hold

their initial stance. Within the same paragraph, a couple of sentences later, Carson introduces the

word “we”. In doing this, Carson now makes the questions following the sentences with “we”

more personal and friendlier. Carson states that “Yet is our real problem not one of

overproduction?” (11) and proceeds to answer the question. Carson’s use of hypophora at the end

of paragraph 11 enables the readers to trust the given answer since at the beginning of the

paragraph, the rhetorical question was valid based on all the information Carson gave

beforehand. Later in the essay, in paragraph 22, Carson brings back more rhetorical questions.

For example, Carson questions, “Have we fallen into a mesmerized state that makes us accept as

inevitable that which is inferior or detrimental…”(22). In this paragraph, the rhetorical questions

bring about a sense of collectiveness. It makes the reader feel as like they can do something

about the chemical poisons that invade the environment.

In essence, Rachel Carson’s essay “The Obligation to Endure” contains influential and

intentional word usage and organizational skills to appeal to the reader’s emotions and correct

their train of thought surrounding the environment so that they can fight for change. The

comparison between nature and man is present throughout the essay. It is made vivid through the

use of personification. Carson’s engagement with the audience through interactive questions

helps the reader stay engaged with this topic that impacts everyone.
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Work Cited

Carson, Rachel. “The Obligation to Endure.” , pp. 780-787. Directory Listing for

Ia801705.Us.Archive.Org, ia801705.us.archive.org/11/items/patterns-for-college-writing-

a-rhetorical-reader-and-guide-by-laurie-kirszner-z-lib.org/Patterns%20for%20College

%20Writing%20A%20Rhetorical%20Reader%20and%20Guide%20by%20Laurie

%20Kirszner%20%28z-lib.org%29_djvu.txt. Accessed 9 July 2023.