Yousif Saleh Essays (807 words) - Biophilia Hypothesis, Richard Louv

Yousif Saleh Philyaw, 3rd AP Language 10/18/15 Louv Rhetorical Analysis Essay Nature and Society before were symbiotic in the way they interacted with each other. Nature was considered a daily and essential part of life. However, as time passed nature has been left behind as technology replaces its role. Journalist, Richard Louv, in his excerpt, Last Child in the Woods, admonishes the influx of technology and its effects on the human observation on nature. Louv refutes that modern-day society functions by increasing attention to their products. They advertise on nature, tarnishing the experience between individuals and the world around them. Technology shifts the purpose of nature from something that we can learn about to something that can be bought. He characterizes society and nature as becoming more isolated and separate. He adopts a reprehensible tone in order to reveal the dire situation of division of nature and society to his adult readers. Louv uses elaborate diction, anecdotes, and imagery to develop his essay. Louv begins his essay by using specific words to advance his claim. The author uses the word "stamp" to signify the forced sense of ownership can be bought out of a corporation. The reason why Louv uses the word "stamp" is because he emphasizes the cruelty and barbarity of the big corporations. This suggests that society uses what is not theirs. No one owns the nature that is available to the public and for corporations to vandalize the environment is surely distasteful. Louv repeatedly placed the word "public" throughout this excerpt. The word "public" alludes that it is meant for the community and only for private companies. Louv proposes that corporations will usurp the environment "in exchange for dollars". Exchange would refer to trading something that you already own, and by any means no one can sell something that is intended for everyone. This manifests how society only cares about economic profit and wealth over nature and all the benefits that nature has provided us. Louv then shifts to talk about special anecdotes that reinforce his argument that nature and society are detached. Louv recalls an event when a friend of his went to the car dealership and was pressured into getting a TV in the backseat of the car. This short anecdote symbolizes how society distracts others from learning by nature with manmade devices. A TV in the car would divert the children's attention from their surrounding in nature. Louv exclaims "Why do so many Americans say they want their children to watch less TV, yet continue to expand the opportunities for them to watch it." Society only takes interest in money even if it meant to sacrifice nature. Louv used the expression of "jaw dropped" to accentuate the fact that technology is part of the norm instead of nature. The hyperbolic statement describes how dependent society is on technology. Later on, Louv exclaims that grandparents will eventually tell their grandchildren that they actually looked out the window. By dec laring this, he implies that looking out the window will be an extinct behavior among the next generation. It is a hyperbole because it exaggerates the outcome of reliance on technology and the abandonment of nature. Finally, Louv uses imagery to give the readers a mental image of the beautiful landscape. He elucidates that when he was younger, he used to stare at the nature outside his car window and think about the environment. He explains "It was our drive-by movie." in the manner that he was entertained just by looking out the window. He describes in detail the "seamy edges of water", and "woods and the fields". This paints a picture of how beautiful nature is, contributing to the emotion of a reader, adding a feel of fulfillment and wonder. The picture of the glaring night and the intrigue of young children develops a happy tone. The happy tone that is brought out comes from enjoying nature. It showcases the happiness that can come from observing nature instead of being attached to a TV or cell phone. This allows the reader to picture the peaceful and serene image of nature, with its sounds and all the different animals that can be seen on farms. He also expresses that they