Implication of Rhetorical Elements in Anita Desai's In Custody

Abstract

This thesis makes a rhetorical analysis of Anita Desai's In Custody, using plural approaches like kairos or rhetorical situation and argumentation analysis. It focuses on techniques applied by the writer and tries to show how these tools convey the writer's intention. It engages the ideas from the works of Aristotle and Kenneth Burke. It utilizes the concept of the classical appeals of logos, pathos and ethos as well as kairos which include text, implied rhetor, acual rhetor, intended audience, actual reader and specific time. The finding of this research is that the novel of Desai is rich in rhetorical devices and these devices help Desai to persuade the readers. She persuades that the intellectual person names as Deven suffers a lot in the Indian society due to class gap between the rich and the poor. Not only that much Deven is cheated and exploited by most of the characters in the novel. Her use of language is figurative with figures of speech and thought. The use of language or word choice of other characters shows that Deven really suffers. She uses common language which is spoken by ordinary people. She even uses flattery language for different types of characters and presents her argumentation. The kairos analysis of the novel shows that Desai as the spokesperson of the Indian society. Her work shows the picture of economic, social and human relationship of the Indian society. She raises the issue of suffering, exploitation, cheating, fraud, crisis in human relationship and deals properly with them.