Persuasion plays a vital role in The Devil in the White City by Erik
Larson; but first, one must understand the three forms of rhetoric. One is logos, using logic to persuade; another
is pathos, playing to ones emotion in
order to get what you want; the last is ethos,
establishing trust and playing that card to persuade someone. All three are
used throughout this #1 national bestseller. One example lies on page 26, when
Pail Starrett says, “It is easy to see how he got commissions. His very bearing
and looks were half the battle. He had only to assert the most commonplace
thing and it sounded important and convincing.”
He is describing the well-known architect Daniel Burnham. Not only was
Burnham tall and strong, his vivid blue eyes invoked trust upon first sight. His partner, Root, was more of the brains behind the architecture. When he was attempting to sway clients in his direction, he used a logical argument. All
of these characteristics combined played to their advantage when trying to persuade
anyone to do anything. Another example of Burnham’s persuasion tactics is shown
much later on page 82 while he is trying to convince five Eastern architects to
work with him on the world fair in Chicago. These attempts to persuade are
described as a “courtship.” Though there is no romantic intent, this seems to
be very accurate due to the delicateness Burnham proceeds with while attempting
to talk these professionals into working with him. On the flip side, H. H.
Holmes uses ethos while getting what
he wants. He may not even be attempting to establish trust in some
conversations that he has, but there is some natural—or sub-natural—quality
about him. He could, in a matter of minutes, have a man who walks into his
store furious about the tremendous debt Holmes owes him back out the door with
a smile on his face—and still empty pockets. Friday, January 24, 2014
Rhetoric in The Devil in the White City
Persuasion plays a vital role in The Devil in the White City by Erik
Larson; but first, one must understand the three forms of rhetoric. One is logos, using logic to persuade; another
is pathos, playing to ones emotion in
order to get what you want; the last is ethos,
establishing trust and playing that card to persuade someone. All three are
used throughout this #1 national bestseller. One example lies on page 26, when
Pail Starrett says, “It is easy to see how he got commissions. His very bearing
and looks were half the battle. He had only to assert the most commonplace
thing and it sounded important and convincing.”
He is describing the well-known architect Daniel Burnham. Not only was
Burnham tall and strong, his vivid blue eyes invoked trust upon first sight. His partner, Root, was more of the brains behind the architecture. When he was attempting to sway clients in his direction, he used a logical argument. All
of these characteristics combined played to their advantage when trying to persuade
anyone to do anything. Another example of Burnham’s persuasion tactics is shown
much later on page 82 while he is trying to convince five Eastern architects to
work with him on the world fair in Chicago. These attempts to persuade are
described as a “courtship.” Though there is no romantic intent, this seems to
be very accurate due to the delicateness Burnham proceeds with while attempting
to talk these professionals into working with him. On the flip side, H. H.
Holmes uses ethos while getting what
he wants. He may not even be attempting to establish trust in some
conversations that he has, but there is some natural—or sub-natural—quality
about him. He could, in a matter of minutes, have a man who walks into his
store furious about the tremendous debt Holmes owes him back out the door with
a smile on his face—and still empty pockets. 
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