Tropes

Rhetorical tropes need to be considered if we are going to survive these days. Rhetoric – in simplest terms – is the art of persuasion and tropes are figures of speech that make that persuasion more effective. America is a study in persuasion as we are constantly bombarded with sales pitches, political agendas and sycophancy. We seem to be the most persuadable people on earth. Plato called rhetoric the, “art of ruling the minds of men,” and our poor little minds are under attack from those who wish to rule us. We are defenseless against the onslaught. Hitler reminded us that, ” the broad masses of a population are more amenable to the appeal of rhetoric than to any other force.”

Rhetoric can lead us to believe that Hillary Clinton is a procuress operating a child sex ring out of a pizza parlor and listen seriously to the value of a Space Force. We are being played…relentlessly. Aristotle, Quintillion, Cicero and a host of other philosophers have mulled the effects of rhetoric on individuals and society. A short list of tropes that we encounter today might be helpful for us to clarify the scope and seriousness of the attacks upon us.

We all remember Spiro Agnew’s reliance on the trope of alliteration. “Nattering nabobs of negativism” is idiotic but memorable. Alliteration is almost a mnemonic device assuring that the message will not soon be forgotten. Trump’s use of litotes is clear in his “you won’t be sorry” message. Add metonymy to the list this creative figure of speech is used to implant an idea in one’s memory. Metonymy is a substitution such as “Top Brass” to indicate senior leadership in the military. Using “rapists and murderers” for immigrants is a perfect false equivalence executed with this device. Zeugma (using a single verb for many subjects) raises its ugly head as well. Such as, “we stiffened our defenses and resolve.” Don’t forget polysyndeton – multiple repetitions after a simple conjunction. i.e. “we believe in freedom and equality, and the message of our forefathers.”

During our shared covid experience we see a phenomenon first noted by Ralph Waldo Emerson, “numbers serve to discipline rhetoric. Without them it is too easy to follow flights of fancy, to ignore the world as it is and to remold it nearer the heart’s desire.” Limiting covid testing is perfectly explained.

We do well to remember that our politicians constantly seek to persuade us to adopt a specific world view, to become “true believers” and we will do well to know their tricks. Rhetoric that is properly employed (Obama, MLK, Lincoln etc.) can inspire and delight while rhetoric harnessed for dark purposes can kill us all.

I agree with Euripides: ” In my opinion the unjust man whose tongue is full of ingratiating rhetoric merits the heaviest punishment.” Hopefully the unjust ones will be punished soon.