“A Hanging” by George Oswell Rhetorical Analysis

“A Hanging” by George Oswell Rhetorical Analysis

Rhetorical Analysis

“A Hanging” by George Oswell presents the story of a man facing hanging by his warders. Oswell gives the story to show the nature of man to disregard evil actions after a short time. The use of rhetorical devices is essential in ensuring that Oswell’s message reaches the intended audience. Oswell uses a combination of imagery and action to express a dichotomy that shows human beings as being capable of engaging in evil actions and disregarding them within a short time.

The combination of imagery and action play a crucial role in bringing out the character of human beings of engaging in evil acts and disregarding them after a short time. A man is presented in a prison in Burma and is facing hanging by his warders. The action takes place in an early morning and the events leading to his hanging create a sad mood. The man appears to be willing to move to the gallows but his shouts of “Ram! Ram! Ram!” shocks the warders hence the hanging is delayed (Oswell, 2). However, the hanging goes on as the warders go on to move the floor and man’s neck snaps. The hanging of the man is followed by silence in the courtyard. However, the environment changes abruptly as the warders leave the scene looking jovial and undisturbed by what had just happened.

In sum, the use of imagery and action presents Oswell’s message concerning the character of human beings to disregard evil deeds within a short period. The warders in the story move out of the gallows with jovial dialogue and appear to have disregarded everything that has happened. Oswell has effectively employed the two devices to make sure that his message gets to the intended audience.

Work Cited

Orwell, George. A hanging. Adelphi, 1931.