Rhetorical Analysis: Behemoth in a Bathrobe

By Brandon Evans

Behemoth in a Bathrobe by Carla Seaquist, is an excellent piece of unique literature.

Published originally in Gig Harbor, Washington state, on 4 February 2003 (onto the Huffington
Post, a more liberal news website), Carla had an opinion that she wanted to share with America,
and her vision of what she thought America had become. From what we can gather from the text,
we can only assume that this is something that she wanted to be read from the rooftops to all
Americans, to awaken them to a sense of duty, a sense of responsibility, but ultimately she
expresses her thoughts that America rarely feels a sense of anything at all, so obtaining a sense of
anything would be a step in the right direction.
Carlas viewpoint has existed for quite some time now. We read on her website
(http://www.carlaseaquist.com/) her writers statement which gives us an insight of her purpose:
My work has always been about ultimate things and a wider worldall the more so since the
world crashed into America on September 11, 2001. It seems a large part of her viewpoints
circle around the 9/11 incident, as its referenced in the Behemoth article, her website, and she
has even written an entire book labeled Manufacturing Hope: Post-9/11 Notes on Politics,
Culture, Torture, and the American Character, which deals expressively with what happened
post 9/11. This perspective of how things changed after 9/11 shapes Carla as a writer, and it
definitely shapes the Behemoth text as well, which contributes to the larger conversation of is
America on the decline?
The objective of this text is that, indeed, America has is and has been on the decline for
quite some time now. That it once before stood in glory, and now that spark has faded, insomuch

that its nearly pathetic in comparison. But alas, we are not hopeless. We can dig ourselves from
the trench that we are seemingly in, and we can become what we once were, and from there,
even greater. The stars are the limit.
The purpose of this rhetorical essay is to reinforce the ideals that Carla sets forth in
Behemoth in a Bathrobe, which does a remarkable job at conveying the message, and the
concept that America needs to recover the spark (paragraph 4).
Looking at Huffington Posts website, and Carlas works, as well as reading this text
itself, its safe to say that this document was written particularly with the educated, liberal
Americans in mind, to rouse them up to action, and to rally them to do something in their
communities about the laziness of others. This concept and feeling will be generated as I identify
key points of the article, but it is something to keep in mind.
Written in play format, with dialogue between two characters, the Behemoth and the
Voice, Carla uses the Voice as the strong conscious of America, and the Behemoth as the
American psyche. I claim that her use of the three artistic proofs, logos, pathos, and ethos, are
done in a way that engages the reader, supports her claims, and helps us understand where
America really is today, through its argumentative genre.
The idea that America has lost some of its luster is one that isnt hard to grasp. The Voice
in particular identifies this point, to clarify and support Carlas argument, as in these few
examples: BEHEMOTH: Who says [Americas spark is] gone? VOICE: Well, look at us. We're
consuming trash TV and "reality" shows that exalt humiliation, violence, sex---a tawdry reality
to convey to our kids. After a stint of admiring real heroes, like the rescue workers of 9/11, we've
reverted to the unreal kind---celebrities---who behave ever more moronically----. In essence
what shes claiming is, LOOK. Its not hard to see that many people are fat. Many people are

lazy. Many people honestly seem like they dont care, dont act, and its sad, but its true. To
note, its also interesting how we see the Voice expound a seemingly unspoken truth to create
this particular sense of the loss of the spark. This entire document uses the unspoken tactic,
allowing the reader to come to conclusions themselves instead of having the author bluntly write
what they want said. Heres an example that builds on the logical sense that, fear can lead to
destruction, this time coming from the Behemoth: BEHEMOTH: .don't let our fear be
manipulated. History is replete with people manipulated by fear, which is why so much history is
tragic. If we sit in our houses, in fear of the world, in fear of change, in fear of anything, there
can be no progression. And the glory days will remain the glory days. History is made by the
courageous. Catastrophes are made by cowards. Fact.
Its easy to say that the entire document is indeed pathos, with the dialogue of characters
its simple for the intended audience to feel the emotions that Carla is trying to get across to her
audience. For example, how she uses humor to pull the reader in, to generate curiosity, and a
sense of connection, with the text. How about the humor from the Behemoth? I need a
sandwich, Oh, look, a rerun of the Victorias Secret documentary!, Wheres my remote
control? all of these help us feel the empathy that yes these are real people. It also can generate
within her intended audience some anger possibly, at how stupid America really can appear to
be. That anger can lead to action. Earlier in the text there is a bold and piercing question from the
voice, which generates a feeling of disgust, which causes the audience to truly ponder What
has happened to us? Has America changed? Have I changed? What has changed? What am I
doing about it? These are all questions that generate from that one powerful rhetorical stratagem,
and no doubt cause the liberal audience to truly think like Carla wants them to. And then, of
course the powerful finishing move, enriching the audience with a sense of true passionate

empowerment: VOICE: [W]e Americans must learn to live in our new world, not retreat.
Harness the fear and use it. Live with questions as well as answers---in a word, accept
complication and come together again, as we did once upon a time This is our opportunity
to mature. In fact, metaphysically, this could lead to an American existentialism---yes! ---Taking
action in a hostile universe---- Lets get out there. Lets do our part. The only one stopping us,
is US. The only reason dont live in the glory days is because of us. Thats how I perceive that.
As far as credibility is concerned, Carla herself as a writer has written several books, as
pre mentioned in the essay, she brings up valid points, and the text is clear, and easily readable. It
was published on Huffingtonpost.com, as she is a writer for them, and good old Huffington,
according to alexa.com (a website that stores and records analytics about other websites) reports
the Huffington post to be the 38th most viewed site in the United States.
All in all, the Behemoth in a Bathrobe helps us all become self-aware of the dangerous
question: Have we lost the spark? The Rhetoric is indeed compelling, the text enlightening, all
from reading this short article of the dialogue between America and its conscience. With an
excellent use of the 3 artistic proofs, drawing in not only its intended Huffington Post audience
of potential liberals and educated gurus, but also to the general public, causing them to know
more, to think more, and potentially to act more. I think that Carla couldnt have done a better
job. Theres nothing I could add, and nothing I would take away. All in all, its a great piece,
rhetorically, and regularly, that should be read be read by everywhere to help them more clearly
understand their purpose in this country, and how if we can all work towards a brighter, more
mindful future, we can once again, live in the glory days of America.