Essay Questions

Describe the major rhetoric appeals which Mr. Rybakov employs in his letter to the president.

Phatos: “Back in Russia, senior citizens with mental disabilities are kept in dilapidated hospitals and humiliated on a daily basis by young hooligans who have scarcely heard of the Great Patriotic War and have no sympathy of their elders who fought tooth and nail to keep out the murderous Krauts.” Here, Rybakov appeals to the president’s empathy towards the mentally unstable folks.

Ethos: “I help defend America by investing part of my social security income into companies such as Martin Marietta and United Technologies.” Rybakov declares his credibility to validate that he merits American citizenship.

Deconstruct Vladimir’s dreams.

Shteyngart writes, “Vladimir locks his office door, close his eyes, and dreams of…A scheme!... A provocation! Pyramids! Turbo props! The Frankfurt exchanger! The old Girshkin something for nothing.” Vladimir’s dreams mirror his unconscious passion for richness which could be actualized through the undertakings defined above. He is not unequivocally content with his rank as a secretary.