The Autobiography "An Ordinary Man"
The autobiography “An Ordinary Man” written by Paul Rusesabagina is a mind-boggling piece of work that captures the interest of the reader right from the onset. The writer has employed the use of various rhetoric strategies to keep the reader yearning for more. The story is about an ‘ordinary man’ who turned from being a mere hotel manager to being a national hero recognized far and wide. This turn of events occurred during the civil war in Rwanda between the Hutu and the Tutsi that commenced on 6th April 1994. This brave protagonist not only managed to save the lives of his family but he also provided aid to the 1268 people who confided in his hotel during the genocide (Rusesabagina, et al. 34).
The Use of Ethos to Persuade
The big question in this excerpt is; how did Paul Rusesabagina manage to convince over a thousand people that he was going to protect them from the enemies who were baying for their blood? What was the formula for his success? The answer is very simple. Paul employed the use of ethos to persuade the masses that he hard their best interests at heart. After one reads An Ordinary Man, one cannot help but marvel at the skillful use of ethos by the author. Paul not only convinces the hotel ‘guests’ that he is going to protect them from the genocide but he also convinces us the reader that these turn of events actually did take place (Rusesabagina and Rusesabagina,46).
The Role of Ethos in Building Trust
Ethos i.e. the character of ethics of the protagonist played a key role in creating a rapport between Paul and the people. Ethos basically denotes how an individual can foster trust and credibility with others. In the excerpt, we see Paul managing to gain the respect and confidence of others. First, Paul is portrayed to be honest and straight forward. He clearly outlines to the people that his main objective is to keep them safe from harm. He did not at any point in time act in a suspicious manner. He is quoted saying to one of his guests. “I do not think anybody knows anybody anymore” (Paul Rusesabagina, 157). The relationship between Paul and his counterparts was based on trust. Secondly, Paul is a good listener. He is willing to listen to the opinions of others and try to fathom their point of view. He did not disregard others.
Paul's Openness and Professionalism
Thirdly, Paul is open and sincere. Initially when he began working at the hotel he is caught up in a minor conflict with one of his junior colleagues Mille Collins. Mille refuses to recognize Paul’s authority over him. In order to resolve the issue Paul confronts Mille openly and states, “Listen my friend, today I am your boss and you must respect me” (Paul Rusesabagina, 60). As a result of Paul’s open minded nature the two quash their differences. Paul also treats everyone at the work place with equal measure regardless of their ranks. This ensures that he co-exists harmoniously with his work mates.
The Strength of Paul's Spirit
It is also very important to note that Paul had a very strong spirit. When people were wallowing in grief and sorrow, when people were panicking, when people turned into animals; he remained level headed. He states, “This is why I say that the individual's most potent weapon is a stubborn belief in the triumph of common decency” (Paul Rusesabagina, 113). Paul’s character clearly comes out in this excerpt. This lad maintained top notch professionalism throughout the trying times. He simply won the hearts of many mine included. I would urge masses to emulate Paul Rusesabagina’s character.
"How to Tell a True War Story" by Tim O'Brien
Similarly, Tim O’Brien has employed the use of ethos in his excerpt "How to Tell a True War Story." Tim’s main objective of coining this interesting story is to shed light to the masses on the myriad of challenges and madness soldiers’ face in the line of war or while in combat. Through this rhetoric strategy the author has created a strong bond with the reader. First, Tim incorporated a variety of speaking voices in his text. We have the author i.e. the narrator telling us a story as though he is talking to us on a one on one basis. This unique style captures and maintains the attention of the reader because it appears as though one is conversing with the author (O'Brien, et al. 38).
The Compassionate Nature of the Author
Secondly, we get to see the compassionate nature of the author about the war. It appears as though the war changed the author. His compassionate nature emerges from the fact that he had a first-hand experience of what actually happened in the war. From the excerpt is evident that the narrator has a likeable demeanor. His likeable nature also enables the narrator to connect with the target audience (Heberle, 56).
Distinct Personalities of Characters
Thirdly, the writer has employed the use of various characters with distinct personalities. First there is Rat who is portrayed to be an angry yet calm and emotional individual. Then there is Michelle, the attention seeker and lastly there is a woman at the end of the text who depicts the innocent nature of the members of the public who are ignorant of the war stories being narrated (Gale, 18).
In Conclusion
In a nutshell, both “An Ordinary Man” by Paul Rusesabagina and "How to Tell a True War Story" by Tim O’Brien have employed the use of ethos to establish a rapport between the characters in the excerpt and the reader. Through ethos, the author is able to connect with is his intended target audience. Writing is basically an art aimed at keeping the read always yearning and anticipating for more. I would definitely recommend that all avid readers indulge in the contents of these two splendid books.
Works Cited
Gale, Cengage L. A Study Guide for Tim O'brien's ""how to Tell a True War Story"". Gale, Cengage Learning, 2016.
Heberle, Mark A. A Trauma Artist: Tim O'brien and the Fiction of Vietnam. U of Iowa P, 2001.
O'Brien, Tim, et al. From How to Tell a True War Story. Minnesota Center for Book Arts, 1987.
Rusesabagina, Paul. An Ordinary Man: The True Story Behind Hotel Rwanda. Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 2009.
Rusesabagina, Paul, and Paul Rusesabagina. Paul Rusesabagina: an Ordinary Man. Free Library of Philadelphia, 2006.
Rusesabagina, Paul, et al. An Ordinary Man: [an Autobiography]. Books on Tape, 2010.
