Rhetorical Analysis
The Pirate Story by Rob Carlson and Yoshimi and the Robot by Michael Buckley are two
entertaining narratives. The stories however, serve a different purpose than storytelling, as the
narratives carry a deeper meaning. For instance, The Pirate Story for instance, seeks to explain the
existing stereotypes in the piracy profession. At the same time, it humanizes the participants of the
act. On the other hand, Yoshimi and the Robot, discusses relationships between men and computer.
It also discusses the effects that individuals would face if they put too much trust in the machines.
Rhetoric techniques that have been employed in the two stories include; dark romanticism,
personification, opposing viewpoints an anaphora. The rhetoric techniques in the narratives deliver
the intended message to the readers as well as keep them captivated until the end of the story.
Carlson brings out the technique of opposing viewpoints when he discusses the general
public especially authors, newspapers and film creators who have established a stereotypical
impression of typical pirates. As the story begins, the narrator sounds angered by the fact that
people have been misled into thinking that pirates are an entire species, different from human
beings. He resumes the claim and states that, ‘There is so much in the general picture to which we
take offense.’’ The anger in the narrator however seems to be directed to the intellectuals who
write different books about the profession and explains that their reference to sailors as
‘buccaneers’ and ‘swashbucklers’ is what misleads the readers.Carlson argues that the authors
have branded sailors’ unnecessary names and images without portraying the real situation. He
notes, ‘being in a ship of any size in the harbor, let alone on the high glassy waters of a real sea’
(Carlson). Through the story, Carlson attempts to humanize the piracy profession and presents it
as any other job with necessary ethical issues such as politeness and safety of individuals involved.
On the other hand, Buckley focuses on technology in our world today and warns
individuals on over relying to technology. He notes that technological devices have the potential
to harm individuals in the long run, as they are more powerful compared to human beings. In
regards to the events that takes place in the story, Buckley indirectly warns a user and tells them
to stop relying on everything they see in the world because if they continue doing so, they will
only function as programmed and will lack the necessary human virtues of empathy and motional
expression. In the book, a robot is used to show that while it is a highly intelligent machine, it only
operates depending on the logic of the program in it. Robots, unlike human beings, are detached
from aspects such as remorse and love. This is witnessed when 8A8 orders the butchering of
Yoshimi the robot does not feel any sense of guilt. Buckley explains to technological companies
and software engineers to explain to them that no matter how advanced artificial intelligence might
seem, it can never take the place of human beings. Besides, the author narrates that it is essential
to preserve practices such as reading, which are gradually being alienated by technology.
Developing a specific group will help in the delivery of a story as well as help improve its language
and pass the intended message (Graff 379).
The Pirate Story is full of opposing viewpoints as shown by the narrator, who describes
pirates and the piracy profession contrary to what the public perceives. he says that authors in
different books only show a picture of an insane looking individual on their front covers, waving
a sword so that the American public believes that pirates are dangerous criminals. The readers of
the books therefore, are left with an imaginable image of pirates. Explains that he wants to rectify
the false image created by the authors. Through an opposing viewpoint, Carlson introduces an
alternative truth to the information readers already have. He further shows that piracy is a business
just like other refutable businesses in America and the difference is that it occurs over water.
According to him, authors put flags on pirates and address them as victims who kill other people
mercilessly. The narrator is arked by the stereotypes associated with the profession and explains
that pirates are normal people. In the end, Carlson manages to convince their readers the nature of
a pirate.
Both stories use the emphasis of anaphora. The word ‘we’ is repeatedly used in ‘The Pirate
Story.’ The author notes, ‘we meet new people. We merge..we are out making a killing, but we
rarely make a killing.’’ Also, anaphora is used to show tension building up in the text. In Yoshimi
and the Robot,’ Buckley uses anaphora to show tension when the teacher voice states, ‘Don’t be a
fool Yoshimi’’… other places where anaphora is used include; ‘Yoshimi knew… Yoshimi stared
in amazement’ (14). As a reader reads the words, suspense is built within them and one holds their
breath as they anticipate the next event. The use of such techniques in a story helps engage a reader
and makes them turn pages to the end of the story (King, and Lewis 01).
Dark romanticism is evident in both books making romantics feel disappointed as the end
of the story is not ideal for them. In The ‘Pirate Story,’ a romantic would hope that the narrator
and Reagan move to the edge of the forest and consummate their feelings for each other. However,
she gets naked and buries her pirate clothes and renounces her practice of piracy to something else
in the land. For romantic, it would be suitable for the story to end with their marriage and they live
happily ever after (Howard 01). In Buckley’s story, a romantic would expect that the relationship
between Yoshimi and the robot becomes successful to a point where Yoshimi falls deeply in love
with the robot and willingly gives herself to the robot. In the story, Yoshimi is ready to wave off
advances from human beings as her desire is to be able to talk and stay with the 8A8 robot.
In a technological world where individuals favor machines to human beings, it is possible
to find such a development (Brynjolfsson, and Mcafee 03). Yoshimi has learned about sex in a
similar way other people have, using rumors to reconstruct secrets. Yoshimi forms a likely scenario
where a man and a woman connect their bodies in an event that lasts between six to fourteen hours
and by the time the events was over, the individuals were madly in love. A romantic reader
therefore expects that Yoshimi will give herself to the robot. However, the opposite of the
expectation occurs because when she stretches her hand towards the robot to touch him, he
becomes defensive as programmed and slices both of her hands and one leg. At the end of both
stories therefore, a reader is disappointed as their expectations are not met.
Both books use emphatic, which refers to the appropriate use of exclamation marks in the
stories. Examples of emphatic include; ‘Yoshimi! Don’t be a fool, Yoshimi! Carlson also uses
emphatic to show that the level of the piracy business has been reduced by the press. He uses terms
such as; ‘swashbucklers! Buccaneers!’ as a way to show the stereotypical image created by the
public. Buckley explains that the robot screams ‘fuck you! Startling Yoshimi and making her fear.
Both authors use emphatic to create a mental image of what someone was saying or the things an
author anticipated.
Personification is also used in both stories. The Robot for instance is a taking robot. The
use of Rhetoric in both narratives is continuously evidenced in the phrase, ‘I was on fire, and I
knew by the way every glance at the injures Reagan influenced me that I had feelings for her’
(Carlson 07). Rhetorical questions in both narratives also make the stories more enjoyable.
Questions are used in the story as the narrator assumes hey are talking to the reader. All the
Rhetorical questions in the stories are used to complement the story as a reader often finds
themselves thinking alongside the subject.
It is evident that both narratives use different rhetoric devices. It is however clear that ‘The
Pirate Story’ applies more rhetoric effectively. Readers would claim that the story is more
enjoyable compared to ‘Yoshimi and the Robot’ which appears dull in some cases and rushes at
the end. Therefore, Carlson effectively delivers his story. The story is also suitable for a literature
student as it challenges their knowledge on rhetorical devices while at the same time stays relevant
and entertains them. Although both books are excellent reads, I would recommend that people read
‘The Pirate Story.’