Rhetorical Analysis of "A Mass Incarceration Mystery" by Eli Hager

Running head: RHETORICAL ANLYSIS
Rhetorical Analysis
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1RHETORICAL ANALYSIS
As opined by Daly and Davy, the meaning as well as the appeal of a literary work
depends to a great extent on the literary techniques which had been used by the author for the
composition of the concerned text. More importantly, it is seen that the effectiveness
utilization of these literary techniques of devices not only helps the author to convey the
meaning of the text in an effective manner but also adds to pleasure of reading the text in a
substantial manner (Charland et al. 4). In this regard, the construct of rhetorical triangle is an
important one which has been used by the various author as well as critics since the
traditional times. The three elements of the triangle, namely, ethos, pathos and logos were
originally propounded by Aristotle as part of the theory of poetry and literary criticism that he
articulated (Bosley 77). Furthermore, even in the 21st century it is seen that these three
elements are being used by the authors for the composition of their literary works and also by
the critics for the analysis of diverse literary texts (Charland et al. 3). The appeal and the
quality of a text depend greatly on the effectiveness with which these three elements of the
rhetorical triangle are being utilized by an author. This paper will undertake an analysis of
The Washington Post article “A mass incarceration mystery” on the basis of rhetorical
triangle.
The article “A mass incarceration mystery” discusses about the incarceration process
which is being followed within the nation of the United States of America. More importantly,
the article at the same time sheds valuable light on the discrimination which had existed since
the traditional times in the process of incarceration between the black and the white skinned
people in the concerned nation (Hager). The article also discusses through the use of various
statistics the manner in which this discrimination between the white and the black skinned
people has reduced in the recent times. The statistics clearly indicate that not only the
incarceration gap between these two sets of people have reduced in the present times but at
the same time shows that the white skinned people as a matter of fact face higher number of

2RHETORICAL ANALYSIS
incarceration. However, the article also states the reduction in the incarceration rate is a
subjective thing and to reduce the crime rate the authorities rather than focusing on the
incarceration should focus on the ways through which the crime rate can be reduced.
Charland et al. are of the viewpoint that the authors for the purpose of lending
credibility to the incidents or events that they are describing in their literary works take the
help of the literary device of ethos. More importantly, it is seen that the effective utilization
of this tool enables the authors to create the aura of verisimilitude in their literary works. In
this regard, it needs to be mentioned that the author Eli Hager in her article “A mass
incarceration mystery” takes the help of this literary device. For example, in order to
convince the readers regarding the racial bias which is prevalent in the legislative system of
the United Nation of America she takes the help of different kinds of statistical data offered
by the government. In this regard, at the very beginning of the article she says “one in 10
black children has a parent behind bars, compared with about one in 60 white kids, according
to the Stanford Center on Poverty & Inequality” (Hager). However, at the same time, the
author agues the fact that in the recent years this trend has changed in a substantial manner
and justice is being offered on the basis of the crime that they have committed rather than
their race. In this context, it needs to be said that one of the major strengths of the article
under discussion here is the fact that the author rather than using vague arguments to drive
home the message takes the help of various kinds of statistical data.
Hager in order to explain the change which has taken place in the recent years within
the judicial system as well as the incarceration rate of the USA states that “Between 2000 and
2015, the imprisonment rate of black men dropped by more than 24 percent. At the same
time, the white male rate increased slightly, the BJS numbers indicate” (Hager). More
importantly, to make the point which she is narrating much more credible for the readers she
also takes the help of different kinds of gender as well a race specific incarceration rate data.