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Similes
Section 13
Explanation and Analysis:
Stylistically, Reflections on the Revolution in France shares much in common with other polemical and political essays of its time, making use of logos, pathos, and ethos as devices to persuade audiences to side with the author's political position. Burke was a highly educated man, having studied at multiple academic institutions over the course of his lifetime. Without being too obvious or standoffish, he undoubtedly wants to display this university education to the reader. To serve this purpose, Burke uses a writing style that is dense with figurative language and direct literary quotation, which, rather than diminishing his respectability in the minds of the audience, increases his credibility by showcasing his skill and knowledge as an intellectual. Take for instance the following excerpt, in which Burke includes an untranslated phrase in Latin:
There is something else than the mere alternative of absolute destruction, or unreformed existence. Spartam nactus es; hanc exorna.
The italicized Latin text is a quote from Cicero's Letters to Atticus, where he quotes a letter from Agamemnon to King Menelaus of Sparta. The line is pulled from Euripedes's play Telephos, and translates as "Your lot is Sparta—embellish it." Including this line is a highly roundabout way of saying "do the best with what you have" (by which Burke means the English monarchy). Instead of simply stating this, Burke makes the stylistic choice to include this layered allusion—a choice which accentuates his intellectual prowess and reliability.
