Final answer:
Rachel Carson employed the narrative device of a fable in her book 'Silent Spring' to compellingly communicate the environmental risks of pesticides, engaging a wider audience and contributing to significant environmental policy changes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Rachel Carson wrote a section of her book Silent Spring as a fable to illustrate the dire consequences of pesticide overuse on the environment in an accessible and compelling way. Despite the scientific analysis presented in the book, using a fable as a narrative device serves to engage a broader audience, emphasizing the potential devastation through a poignant and relatable story. The allure of storytelling allows readers to connect emotionally with the subject, and Carson's mastery in this approach helped in rallying public support for environmental conservation and influenced the enactment of policies like the banning of DDT in the U.S. agriculture by 1972.
In addition to her scientific background, Carson's literary skills were instrumental in crafting a narrative that reached the hearts and minds of the general public, thus galvanizing social change. Her book not only detailed the scientific aspects of the ecological damage but also denounced the chemical industry for obfuscating the truth about pesticides, driving the point home through her fable's chilling portent.