Rhetorical Analysis Of The Flapper

The 1920s were a time of great change in the United States. World War I had just ended and everyone was joyous that it was over. New jobs were created and styles changed to fit these new times. It was during this period that the flapper came about. The flapper’s unfamiliar style shocked those of the older generation. Her hair was cut in a bob style , she wore shorter, more revealing dresses, and walked around with a bold new confidence. The flapper was a symbol of the change that occurred during this era. The 20s were a time of change and enthusiasm for the future. In this passage, Stevenson uses the rhetorical devices of diction, metaphors, and asyndeton to describe to her younger audience this interesting and entertaining new age.
Stevenson uses diction to thoroughly describe the changes that were brought
These metaphors make comparisons between new jobs and personalities with traits commonly found in objects. For instance, Stevenson describes time as being solid, where time is not solid at all (1). In addition, she describes the excitement for the future and the success it created through a metaphor. “... careers danced upon this foam of confidence.”(Stevenson 1). Stevenson uses this metaphor to show how success was based the trends of the times. Access to the future created a “froth”(1) that people used in order to make money and become successful. Stevenson used foam as her example; foam is not very sturdy, showing that the jobs of this time would not last. Stevenson also uses metaphors to describe the boldness of the flapper. “... her way of skating gaily over thin ice.”(Stevenson 2). The flapper shows her boldness by not being worried about what other people think of her. She is willing to make people irritated or annoyed by this boldness, but is careful not to cross the line. Stevenson’s use of metaphors helps the audience understand what the changes were like in this time