Rhetorical Analysis of "Civil Disobedience"

Civil disobedience  is an argument that is very impactful and forceful with the way Thoreau delivers the ideas of civil revolution in ones particular governmental setting. This piece of writing is more than just a statement but an argument that can help people understand just how powerful they can be in society. Thoreau uses different rhetorical means to get his point across in a powerful way. He is speaking to the American people or anyone that has a government and he is trying to memorably show people it is okay to stand up for what you believe and go about doing what they believe by civil resistance to their government.  The purpose that Thoreau had for writing "Civil Disobedience" is to show people how you should not succumb to government control because it is a metaphorical jail. Thoreau also uses Connation in each paragraph to help develop the pathos In the piece of writing. The emotional Appeal in the writing is to show the audience the negative sides of a governmental controlled setting. Thoreau is using this type of pathos to show the audience the purpose and occasion behind the writing in more depth then just coming out and saying it. The Connation that is used is emotional and shows how people can either stand up and defy the odds and be their own person or follow what everyone else does and be the majority instead of the individual. "Individual as a higher and independent power" this quote shows the ethos of the writing and how this is an ethical idea on what life should be like instead of what it is when it is just government controlling everything. This quote also shows how Thoreau delivers the tone of forcefulness and directness toward the audience.  "Under a government which imprisons any unjustly, the true place for just man is also a prison". This quote shows how Thoreau is using juxtaposition to make his argument stronger and show the faults in a governmental run society without the ideals of individuality and choice. Logos is present in this argument by using repetition and the ideas that a civil revolution isn't reached until the people make the choice to civilly disobey the terms of society. "Civil Disobedience" was written back in earlier times because of the use of phrases and words not so commonly used today. However, with a clear understanding and background knowledge the Kairos of the writing helps make the argument forceful and more of a statement. It is clear the subject of "Civil Disobedience" is that being an individual and standing out instead of following majority and being a leader. This is what helps make "Civil Disobedience" such a strong piece of writing and a very forceful and well devolved argument.