Forms of persuasion in Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Fugard’s Sizwe Bansi is dead: A comparative analysis
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Date
2023
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Publisher
University of Namibia
Abstract
The current study explored the forms of persuasion in Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Fugard’s (along with John Kani and Winston Ntshona), Sizwe Bansi is Dead. The purpose of this study was to investigate how a European and African dramatist comparatively employ rhetorical strategies in their respective plays. The aim of the study was, firstly, to compare and contrast Shakespeare and Fugard’s use of rhetorical techniques to effectively bring out the themes in the selected two plays; secondly, examine the effectiveness of these rhetorical devices in the development of characters in the two plays; and thirdly, comparatively explore how the forms of persuasion used by Shakespeare and Fugard can strengthen the readers’ comprehension of the two plays. The study adopted a literary qualitative approach. The main scenes in both Macbeth and Sizwe Bansi is Dead were content analysed in relation to the dramatists’ deployment of the modes of persuasion, as well as rhetorical techniques. Both dramatists employed all of Aristotle’s mode of persuasion; namely, ethos, logos and pathos, to appeal to the audience and effectively bring out their messages. The findings of the study revealed that rhetorical techniques such as flashbacks, alienation effect, humour and comic elements, and the story-within-a-story technique were stylistically, and therefore effectively used by Fugard and his co-writers in Sizwe Bansi is Dead to drive home their thematic message to their readers and audience. Also, exploring the modes of persuasion in Sizwe Bansi is Dead enables the readers and viewers of the play to appreciate the fundamental problem created by the unacceptable situation that Sizwe Bansi, the main protagonist, Buntu and Styles find themselves in. Shakespeare, on the other hand, worked to move his audience by using literary techniques such as symbolism, irony, allusion, personification, foreshadowing, and imagery. Hence, the protagonist, Macbeth, transforms from a war hero to a tyrant and continues to choose ii evil because he is persuaded by other characters in the play through ethos, pathos and logos, proving that a negative influence of surrounding people can result in one’s own downfall. This study also proved that both Shakespeare and Fugard employed rhetorical techniques to effectively bring out the themes in both plays, develop their characters, and enhance the readers’ understanding of both plays. Hence, the success of both plays, lies in their aim of presenting good stories that would reach out to a designated audience who would accept and appreciate their message. The study concludes that the forms of persuasion used in both Macbeth and Sizwe Bansi is Dead, by these dramatists were successfully developed to achieve verisimilitude.
Description
A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts (English studies)
Keywords
Shakespeare, Sizwe Bansi, rhetorical techniques