Critical Reading #1: Submission Preview

The submissions for this assignment are posts in the assignment's discussion. Below are the discussion posts for Bruce Bello, or you can view the full discussion.

Bruce Bello

“Bloodchild” Afterword

“Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction” (John F. Kennedy). Creating writing is not a simple activity; it requires a form of inspiration and hours of planning and proofreading. Even the simplest types of writing like a book for preschoolers has a purpose, which is to entertain and provide the toddler a lesson. At the end of Octavia Butler short story “Bloodchild”, she provided the reader an insight into her motives in writing the story. By her use of rhetorical features like ethos and pathos, Butler is making an intimate connection with the reader in order to demonstrate that fears can be overcome and made into a form of inspiration.

Butler established an intimate relation with the reader by its incorporation of ethos. Butler is described as the “best-know women in the filed” (biography.com) of science fiction writing. By having a respectable reputation, it influences how its readers perceive its writing because they know she is a well-educated and renown writer. Butler establishes ethos by developing descriptive imagery throughout her Afterword by describing how a maggot can develop in her skin if a botfly lays eggs on her, as stated “living maggot living and growing under my skin, eating my flesh as it grew.” Its description demonstrates that Butler has researched the botfly fly and knows the cycle it goes through to become a mature fly. By incorporating these types of description into her story, it allows her to overcome her fear of botflies and express the impact the insect has on her life.

In the Afterword on “Bloodchild”, Butler utilizes pathos in order to have a sentimental and knowledgeable impact with the readers. By the incorporation of the Afterword, Butler is allowing his readers the opportunity in viewing Butler’s thought process. She is connotating how writing has been her gateway in overcoming her fears and “sort out[her] problems”. Her Afterword is intriguing because even though she is a successful writer, she is not afraid to let her readers know about her fear but even suggest to write on your fears because they can “seem more interesting than horrifying.” By Butler having a sincere tone, she is allowing her readers to respect her and inspire them to conquer their fears.

In Butlers Afterword on the short story “Bloodchild”, it allows her to have a sincere connection with her audience by her use of ethos and pathos in order to inspire her readers to overcome their fears. Butler is inferring that no matter how famous or “normal” a person may be, they all have fears. What defines the consequences of the fear is how you are able work with them.

“Bloodchild” Afterword
“Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction” (John F. Kennedy). Creating writing is not a simple activity; it requires a form of inspiration and hours of planning and proofreading. Even the simplest types of writing like a book for preschoolers has a purpose, which is to entertain and provide the toddler a lesson. At the end of Octavia Butler short story “Bloodchild”, she provided the reader an insight into her motives in writing the story. By her use of rhetorical features like ethos and pathos, Butler is making an intimate connection with the reader in order to demonstrate that fears can be overcome and made into a form of inspiration. 
Butler established an intimate relation with the reader by its incorporation of ethos. Butler is described as the “best-know women in the filed” (biography.com) of science fiction writing. By having a respectable reputation, it influences how its readers perceive its writing because they know she is a well-educated and renown writer. Butler establishes ethos by developing descriptive imagery throughout her Afterword by describing how a maggot can develop in her skin if a botfly lays eggs on her, as stated “living maggot living and growing under my skin, eating my flesh as it grew.” Its description demonstrates that Butler has researched the botfly fly and knows the cycle it goes through to become a mature fly. By incorporating these types of description into her story, it allows her to overcome her fear of botflies and express the impact the insect has on her life.
In the Afterword on “Bloodchild”, Butler utilizes pathos in order to have a sentimental and knowledgeable impact with the readers. By the incorporation of the Afterword, Butler is allowing his readers the opportunity in viewing Butler’s thought process. She is connotating how writing has been her gateway in overcoming her fears and “sort out[her] problems”. Her Afterword is intriguing because even though she is a successful writer, she is not afraid to let her readers know about her fear but even suggest to write on your fears because they can “seem more interesting than horrifying.” By Butler having a sincere tone, she is allowing her readers to respect her and inspire them to conquer their fears. 
In Butlers Afterword on the short story “Bloodchild”, it allows her to have a sincere connection with her audience by her use of ethos and pathos in order to inspire her readers to overcome their fears. Butler is inferring that no matter how famous or “normal” a person may be, they all have fears. What defines the consequences of the fear is how you are able work with them.