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Bella Lawson

Mrs. Morales

Chavez Rhetorical Analysis Essay

08 October 2019

Dr. Martin Luther King Junior showed the world, and Cesar Chavez, how nonviolent

resistance can truly make an impact on society. Much of what Chavez did was modeled after

King’s teachings and protests. Dr. King worked hard for the Civil Rights movement, and Cesar

Chavez drove himself to do the same--but for farmworkers. In Chavez’s article about nonviolent

resistance, he uses rhetorical devices such as allusions, repetition, religious appeals, and

emotional diction to persuade his audience members about the benefits of nonviolence.

Throughout his article, Chavez alludes to public figures such as Martin Luther King Jr.

and Gandhi, to give his argument credibility and leverage. In paragraph one, Chavez states,

“...King’s life is an example of the power nonviolence brings...” starting his first sentence off

with this brings power to the words Chavez is writing. Mentioning Dr. King and his life and

relating Chavez’s own movement to the Civil Rights Movement justifies Chavez’s argument

against violence by showing what other leaders have done with nonviolence. Later on in

paragraph 9, Chavez mentions Gandhi: Chavez writes, “the boycott as Gandhi

taught...instrument of nonviolent change...” this alludes to Chavez’s use of Gandhi’s teachings in

everyday life. Chavez uses the significant figures to support his argument because both Gandhi

and Dr. King were nonviolent leaders, that influenced the world the way Chavez wanted to.

Chavez used specific repetition of words such as “nonviolence” or “we” to focus the

reader on the point he was illustrating. In the entirety of his writing, the word “nonviolence” is
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spread pretty evenly, except for paragraph 3. In paragraph 3, the word “nonviolence” is at the

beginning of almost every sentence. Starting his sentences with this word emphasizes Chavez’s

point of view. This incites the reader and hooks them, to read more. A little farther down, and

you can see Chavez’s use of the word “we”. In paragraph 5, Chavez repeats the word “we” 5

times. This emphasis on “we” makes the reader feel connected to Chavez and his ideas and

writing, as does emotional diction and religious appeals.

In the article, Chavez speaks about the plight of farmworkers using specific emotional

diction to make the reader latch onto his persuasion. Phrases such as, “burdens of generations of

poverty...powerlessness in the fields of America.” in paragraph 7, to make the reader feel pity,

and sadness for the farmworkers. This emotion is later changed into passion and a call to action

for nonviolence and social change. Chavez also speaks briefly about God, in paragraph 2, he

states, “...human life...given by God to man...” this links the reader to Chavez on a religious

standpoint, strengthening his argument and showing the reader similarities between their point of

view and his.

On the tenth anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, Chavez published

an article about nonviolent resistance. This article contained rhetorical appeals that persuaded the

reader to understand Chavez’s point of view. These rhetorical devices included allusions,

repetition, emotional diction and religious appeals. Each of these strengthened Chavez’s

argument, solidifying his point of view to the reader.