"The American Patriot"

This political cartoon, entitled, “The American Patriot,” takes the hilarity of the American transformation to a next level.  All are aware that as time has passed, Americans, as well as most other countrymen, have become lazier than their earlier counterparts.  This cartoon uses rhetorical devices such as an allusion to Patrick Henry, the visual difference of the physical make up between the two characters, as well as the diction used in both speech bubbles.  All of these things work together to form an argument concerning the way our attitudes as Americans have changed within the last few decades.  The ever-changing morale we view in ourselves and others concerns many of us from time to time, and this political cartoon addresses the growing fear that we will one day be nothing as a country.

I have chosen this cartoon specifically for its appeal to each persuasive strategy; logos, ethos, and pathos.  Each strategy works together to form a properly put together argument concerning the way Americans react to governmental issues today.  As a whole, this cartoon properly addresses each strategy and forms a proper argument.  The argument is indeed effective, as it addresses not only the change of direction America has brought upon itself governmentally, but also socially.  The cartoon brings forth things such as weight gain and indecisive reasoning to put forth the argument that if things do not change soon, America will be no more.

My hope is that through a more careful observation of this cartoon as well as a biographical study of its author, I will be able to properly assess the argumentative structure of this rhetorical vision.