Love dying ritual article - Essay Example

September 8, Love’s Dying Ritual: A Critical Analysis The article en d “Love’s Dying Ritual” written by William Raspberry presented crucial perceptions regarding the supposed alarming decline of courtship (Raspberry). The author used various rhetorical appeals to entice the readers’ attention and assist in clearly understanding the point that he was contending. In this regard, the current discourse aims to determine the rhetorical devices used by Raspberry and evaluate their effectiveness in ensuring that the argument asserted is aptly acknowledged and received by the target audience.

One has noted that Raspberry utilizes figurative language and slang as a rhetorical device to heighten the readers’ senses and to enhance emotional appeal. From among the figurative languages, the following were noteworthy: “they are, willy-nilly, in a hookup culture” (Raspberry par. 2) to mean that young adolescent students just go with the tide or proceed without any plan in a culture that is apparently pegged as virtually experimenting with relationships; “scratching my head” (Raspberry par. 9) to possibly mean confused, disbelieving or disapproving; “could have batted my eyes” (Raspberry par. 10) to mean to show either surprise or concern; among others.

The use of figurative language was therefore effective in enticing emotional appeal from the readers. Concurrently, Raspberry also uses another rhetorical device through the metaphor, to wit: “sex was the Super Bowl of relationships” (Raspberry par. 11) and “it’s (referring to sex) just a pickup game” (Raspberry par. 11). Evidently, the author did not want to make literal translations of comparing sex to either the Super Bowl or a pickup game; but by thinking of some creative facets to compare it with, the readers’ imagination are thereby supposedly stirred and expanded.

As such, through the use of metaphors, Raspberry made comparative arguments more exciting. Finally, the author uses a hyperbole or an statement that could be grossly exaggerated: “dint of ironclad personal values” (Raspberry par. 12) when asserting that some youngsters still preserve traditional beliefs. In conjunction with the appropriate tone, which was not too serious or too superfluous, the author was able to deliver the intended message with an intermittent injection of humor and wit.

Likewise, the appropriate use of emotionally charged language would eventually make readers empathize with those students the author mentioned as going along the flow to supposedly get along (Raspberry 13). Overall, Raspberry used an interplay of rhetorical devises, ranging from the application of figurative language, metaphor, hyperbole, appropriate tone, and emotionally charged language to elicit the needed appeal in the article. He used clear scenarios supposedly from the reflections and statements of his students who aptly provided first person perspectives on the decline of courtship.

These rhetorical devices assisted in making the article interesting and fun to read. It was replete with lessons and did not sound demeaning or lecturing in any way. In the end, it was an apt conclusion to relate the topic to Valentine’s Day – his opening and closing line effectively bonded the literary discourse and effectively brought the point, as intended.Works CitedRaspberry, William. "Loves Dying Ritual." 14 February 2005. The Washington Post. 1 March 2013 .