Rhetorical Analysis of Daddy Issues by Sandra Tsing Loh - Book Report/Review Example

Abstract The work provided is the rhetoric analysis of a narration regarding “Daddy issues”, the literature work depends on how well it is formatted and presented to the reader. Writers have many stylistic devices to choose from with the aim of entertaining and bringing out the message in the best way possible. The studied story of “Daddy issues” falls in the category of literature, whose work entails rhetoric devices. The narrator gives the story of his ailing father and how the whole situation has stressed him up. The narrator however decides to add other similar narratives as he develops his story; the additional story within the story has brought out the intended message due to the effective use of this device by the narrator. On top of narration, other stylistic devices have been applied, the message is clear, simple and interesting to read, the lessons are well delivered to the intended audience, therefore the use of rhetoric styles is an icing in the cake. Keywords: Onomatopoeia, Simile, Amplification, Narrative, Metaphor Daddy Issues Onomatopoeia Right from the onset of the story, the writer depicts his inner image portraying a sense of despair in the daily cores that had darkened his entire life, the duty of caring for the elderly- his aging father. Given the tiring and cumbersome duty the writer was undergoing, nothing but signs of despair is expected from such an unmotivated individual, whose good social life has been robbed off by a duty he sees no near end. As a result, it lingers throughout his mind; it does not give him peace. As can be seen here, he is in his working place, a place far from where his father was (at least in the meantime). Once a colleague enquires about his well-being, out of desolation, the nearest answer he could give is the wish that his father dies, “I waaaaaaant my father to dieeeee” (Loh, 2012). The relevance of onomatopoeia here is that it emphasizes the hopelessness of the narrator and prepares the listener to expect a highly desperate person. Simile A simile compares one object with another, a rhetoric device employed by an author to bring an emphasis to an event by drawing the readers’ or audience understanding more close. In the case of Daddy Issues, the author has applied the use of simile, while describing his role over his father. He says that “what I mean, Rob, is that even if, while howling like a banshee, I tore my 91- year-old father from limb to my hands” (Loh, 2012). Banshee is an Irish description of a wailing lady usually predicting a bad omen, while howling is a general description of weariness and lack of belie. Indeed, the author was tired of his old ailing father to the extent that he makes such a statement. Making such a comparison brings out the greater picture of a very tired, bored young man carrying out the duties he doesn’t want. Another instant whereby simile has been employed is when we are being given the story of Jane Gross, “Gross undertook the care of her mother in as professional a way as possible” (Loh, 2012). The application of this device here suggests that Jane was a good hearted and a lovely lady. As readers, we get to know the inner picture and role played by Gross; she is further likened to a typical U.S. family. Amplification Amplification is a rhetorical stylistic device whereby a word or a phrase is repeated for the purpose of emphasis. Looking at the Daddy Issues, the author tells us that “standing ghoulishly tall in the bed, delivers a speech so horrifying, so unexpected, and so perfectly calculated to destroy his son’s spirit” (Loh, 2012). In the context, the author had his mind far fixed on high social and financial status, but all over sudden, is awakened by the ailing father. The choice of using amplification therefore shows that the father’s situation was somehow a nuisance. The speech from the old man now appears to be a disturbing one, the one that doesn’t mind the position or the duty of any one. At any given time, the old man has to be listened to. Another amplification technique that has been applied by the writer is the description of how desperate he was for support from friends; he says that “indeed if they knew all the facts, I believe any group of sensible, sane individuals would actually roll up their shirtsleeves and pitch in” (Loh, 2012). The amplification part is the call for a sensible friend, and to stress it more a sane individual. The main intention of the writer here was to have a person who would fully understand his situation without judging it otherwise; the same individual should then proceed with assistance. The utterance of these words would also suggest that the writer had friends, but they could not help him out with the problems he was encountering. Narratives Narrative is the introduction of a story within a story. From the onset, the author narrates to us his relationship with his father, but somewhere along the way, he chooses to introduce another story, “let us begin by considering A Bittersweet Season, by Jane Gross…Gross undertook the care of her mother in as professional a way as possible” (Loh, 2012) and there he goes explaining how Jane Gross handled how case. Then again, the writer comes up with another story in this case. He describes it as a more hopeful version than the preceding one as well as his own narration, “those seeking a more hopeful take on this bittersweet season might turn, for momentary comparison, to passages in care giving, by Gail Sheehy” (Loh, 2012). This stylistic device is particularly very important as it provides several similar situations to the original story, thereby apart from making the story interesting, the reader is able to figure out several solutions to the questions he had created as he read the story, and it provides a limelight and broader understanding of similar situation. Metaphor Metaphor is a rhetorical stylistic device that implies comparison through a figurative use of words; not in literal sense, but rather in the analogous form. This device has been applied by the writer of “daddy issues” on several occasions. He says that “clearly, my nonagenarian father and I have what have come to be known as “issues,”” (Loh, 2012). They key metaphoric word is “nonagenarian”, which exclusively means a very old person probably with an age of nineties. Automatically from such description, the writer draws much attention from the reader and also gathers some sympathy regarding the duty of caring for such an old man. The reader has also been duly prepared psychologically to expect from the story, all that pertains an older man. Another metaphor within this context is the likening of Gross’s brother as an eagle, “child-free brother, a calm, clear-headed sort given to greeting his sister with a quiet, reassuring “the eagle has landed” What could go wrong?” (Loh, 2012). This case applies to Gross’s brother, who also depends on his sister, despite the challenges that she undergoes. In another incidence, Sheehy’s generosity is exposed when we are informed about the books she has given to the caregivers; “Although Sheehy offers her book as an umbrella guide for all caregivers” (Loh, 2012). The metaphoric word here is the “umbrella”, which means it encompasses many things. It helps the reader have an imagination of how rich the book is with the details of care givers guides. Reference List Loh, Sandra T. (2012, 6 February). Daddy Issues. 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