The Weapons of Manipulation

Humans are easily manipulated. A few words are enough to intimidate and even influence them. A few pages of literature are enough to entirely change a person’s way of thinking. Writers during the Puritanism, Classicism, and Romanticism movements saw this opportunity and took advantage of it. They each had different ways to achieve different goals.  Through these literary movements, writers changed their writing style to manipulate their audience; Puritans belittled readers using the fury of God, Classicists persuaded readers using powerful but often misleading reasoning, and Romanticists terrified readers using frightening but realistic imagery.

            Writers during the Puritan movement compare the greatness of God with the sins of humans to lower audience’s sense of self worth. Jonathan Edwards, in Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, begins by announcing that the “mere pleasure of God” prevents humans from falling into Hell. Edward’s word choice immediately establishes the superiority of God, setting the audience in a state of compliance. He proceeds to directly attack their capabilities by stating they “probably are not sensible”. Emphasizing the “wickedness” of humans, it is mentioned that humans do not see the “restraining hand of God”. Consequently, an unavoidable sense of guilt, as well as fear of possible consequences, is created in the reader’s vulnerable mind. The reader will feel he or she may at any time “swiftly descend and plunge into the bottomless gulf”. Without relenting, Edwards brings up the danger of “infinite misery” and “everlasting destruction”. At this point of extreme hopelessness, however, an “extraordinary opportunity” is offered. Edwards rescues the audience in this manner and, as a result, gains the power to affect their way of thinking.

            Classicists challenge its audience to make reasoned decisions on the basis of the misleading evidence they provide.

            Romanticist writers appeal to the fearful side of readers by emphasizing frightening details of each setting within their stories.