Here is why Thoreau’s
use of rhetorical questions contributes to the persuasiveness and message in “Civil
Disobedience”: A rhetorical question is
a question that is asked, but for which an answer is not needed because the
answer should be obvious enough to readers/audience members will know what is
considered by the author/speaker as the appropriate response. Rhetorical questions will be used in the
place of statements and are used to engage readers and audience members. When questions are asked, people tend to
think a bit deeper into the topic than they would have if just given
information in the form of a statement.
Thus, when posed a rhetorical question—a question that has an obvious
answer favored by the author—one is more apt to consider and/or accept what is
being presented to him or her. As such,
rhetorical questions are persuasive by nature.
