Final answer:
The rhetorical appeal used in the quote is pathos, aiming to evoke an emotional response by detailing the profound internal change a parent feels upon the birth of their child. It connects with the universal experience of shifting life priorities in the face of profound love, showcasing the rhetorical effectiveness of the narrative.
Step-by-step explanation:
The rhetorical appeal being used in the quote provided is an appeal to pathos, or the emotional appeal.
The speaker brings attention to the profound emotional change they experienced upon holding their newborn son, an event that shifted their priorities on a deeply personal level. This appeal addresses the audience’s emotions and tries to connect with them on a human level, aiming to elicit feelings of empathy and understanding regarding the transformative power of parental love and the resulting shift in one’s personal values.
Using vivid and relatable imagery, the speaker makes a compelling case for the universal phenomenon of a parent’s love overtaking previous life ambitions, insinuating that such a shift is not only natural but almost instinctual. The quote seeks to engage the reader’s own sensory experiences and emotional responses, bringing into play their capacity for deep emotional connections, resonating with anyone who has ever felt love eclipse other aspects of their life. This is a perfect illustration of rhetorical effectiveness in expressing the internal consciousness and cognitive changes associated with becoming a parent.
The experience of awareness and the text themselves play a critical role in the development of an individual’s consciousness and perception of the world around them, which is reflected in the compelling narrative provided in the quote.
These elements of the human experience are important not just in rhetoric but in literature and poetry as a whole, as they underpin the ability of words to evoke sensory experiences and shape our understanding of life events.