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Motifs
Definition of Pathos
Pathos, along with logos and ethos, is one of the three "modes of persuasion" in rhetoric (the art of effective speaking or writing). Pathos is an argument that appeals to... read full definition
Pathos, along with logos and ethos, is one of the three "modes of persuasion" in rhetoric (the art of effective speaking or writing). Pathos is... read full definition
Pathos, along with logos and ethos, is one of the three "modes of persuasion" in rhetoric (the art of effective... read full definition
Chapter 2 - Why Chicken Means So Much to Me
Explanation and Analysis—Two-Cent Bullet:
The novel is much more than an argument for social justice, but it frequently uses pathos to demonstrate to readers the unfair emotional and developmental toll of poverty. In Chapter 2, when Junior's father kills Oscar, Alexie uses verbal irony to create a sense of pathos:
I wanted to run faster than the speed of sound, but nobody, no matter how much pain they’re in, can run that fast. So I heard the boom of my father’s rifle when he shot my best friend.
A bullet only costs about two cents, and anybody can afford that.
Oscar is Junior's beloved dog, adopted from the street, and he is very sick. Junior's parents regretfully inform him that they cannot afford to take Oscar to the vet. After a discussion in hushed tones, they tell Junior that the most humane thing they can do for the dog is to kill him. They don't use anesthesia, as a wealthy family would be able to do. Instead, Junior's father has to shoot Oscar.
In this passage, Junior describes the horrible experience of hearing the gun go off. His description of trying to outrun the speed of sound conveys desperation and doom. It is almost as though he is trying to outrun a bullet fired at him. His fear and grief are palpable to the reader. It is clear that this incident is highly traumatic not only to Junior, but also to his father, who cries but follows through on his resolve to end Oscar's suffering.
Junior's next line helps turn all of this emotional weight toward a broader claim about social justice. On the surface, Junior is simply stating a fact: the cost of a bullet is far more affordable than the cost of anesthesia or veterinary care. Regardless of systemic inequality, almost anyone could find two cents by simply scouring the ground for pennies. What Junior really means, though, is that this is one of the most costly moments of his life so far. He has spent this chapter describing his family: he has a mother, a father, a sister, and a dog, just like many other American kids. They love each other imperfectly and sometimes deal with problems like food insecurity, but Junior always trusts his parents to put food on the table before things get too bad. When Oscar gets sick, though, they do not have the means to administer the care he deserves. They must settle for a more brutal option because it is the next best thing available to them. This incident demonstrates to all of them (and to the reader) that sometimes poverty cannot be transcended by love. It forces people to do things that spiritually, no one can really "afford." The rich families Oscar meets in Reardan would never have to "afford" the traumatic cost of this moment because they could "afford" to pay for veterinary care.
Related Themes:
