Rhetoric

Rhetoric-Is the art of using language persuasively

Exigency-is whatever you want to accomplish

            

Logos is defined as persuasion using logic or reason. It depends on statistics, facts, evidence, rational ideas, and sequential reasoning. H.H. Holmes uses this method of persuasion in The Devil in the White City on page 37, when he has an interaction with Mrs. Holton. She is a very vulnerable woman, whose husband is dying of cancer and Holmes picks up on it. He goes on to tell her that “he could turn the drug store into a thriving establishment and conquer competition up the block.” He uses logical reasoning to eventually convince her that it is best that she lets Holmes take over the drug store.

Pathos is defined as persuasion that uses emotion. Personal anecdotes, vicarious experiences, and emotional appeal are all considered to be persuasion using pathos. There are many examples of pathos in The Devil in The White City. H.H. Holmes is a master of this method of persuasion. He uses his charm and good looks to get people to do what he wants, especially pretty, wealth women. On page 37 it says that “His gaze was so clear blue.” This could lead one such as Mrs. Holton to believe that Holmes is a pure and innocent guy, when in fact he is a murder.

Ethos is defined as persuasion using character. It relies on ethics, morals, image, and etiquette. Something that makes this method of persuasion unique is that nonverbal communication is considered as ethos. For this method of persuasion you want to look closely at facial expressions, gestures, demeanor, and attitude. In The Devil in the White City on page 72, it talks about how Holmes has the money to pay off his debt, but he’s so charming and convincing that he never ends up paying it.  “He was the smoothest man I ever saw.” He uses his demeanor to his benefit.

Science of Persuasion

Reciprocity is defined as an obligation to give something in return after receiving something. In The Devil in the White City we witness this happen when H.H. Holmes speaks to and interacts with women. “Stood too close, stared too hard, touched too much and long. And women adored him for it.” This is an example that demonstrations reciprocity because he presented the women attention and in return they provided him love and affection.

Scarcity is when people want more of those things there are less of. This method of persuasion is used throughout many contradistinctive advertisements. We see this in The Devil in the White City when they are introducing the new Ferris wheel at the Chicago World Fair. They say it’s a limited time only and that they couldn't concede the incredible opportunity. This method is very affective for many people because people have a fear of missing out.

People pursue credible knowledge experts. This is known as the use of authority for persuading the audience. Burnham uses authoritative persuasion by constructing the fair the way he envisioned it. “…but sought to always orchestrate the journeys so that his friends saw the fair the way he believed it should be seen..” 

Consistency is when someone or something is looking for and asking for commitments that can be made. “He spoke so well and with such warmth, always touching her in small affectionate ways, even in public. His great flaw was his persistent demand that she allow him to make love to her” (41). This is a quote from The Devil in the White City; it depicts that Holmes’s continuous public display of affection and persistence he was able to achieve his ultimate objective.

We like people who are similar to us; we like people who compliment us; we like people who cooperate with us; this is known by the liking method of science of persuasion. On page 81, in The Devil in the White City, Holmes uses liking by persuading the cops into believing he is an innocent moral man so that they didn’t suspect him as being the murderer. Also in The Boy and the Bank Office, by Philip Ross, the narrator relates to the boy because they are both customers of the bank. The narrator is persuaded by liking to stick up for the boy while the banker declines the boys request to withdraw money.

Using consensus for persuading is when people will look to the actions of others to determine their own. Everyone has dealt with a situation similar to this at some point in their life. As teenagers trying to fit the norm of society people look towards their friends, peers, and celebrities for what clothes to wear and what the style should be. An example of this in The Devil in the White City is, “By now many Algerians, Egyptians, and Persians had gathered on the wheels loading platform…” This displays the diverse ethnicities and populations succeeding the actions of others.

Larson, Erik. The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America. New York:- Crown, 2003. Print.