Jackals Rhetorical Analysis

There is no doubt about the Jackals reading’s intended purpose. To put it simply, Han Sorya is trying to drum up Korean pride and Kim Il-Sung’s communist ideology. On the surface, Sorya appears to have written a touching story about a mother’s devotion to her dying son. But dig deeper and the underlying message is clear. This response paper argues that the Jackals reading is strategically designed to promote the “eternal struggle” rhetoric. Thus, by extension, Jackals is nothing more than a clever propaganda tool. First off, Sorya vilifies the Americans in the story. The reading recounts the American doctors and missionary’s attempts to hinder Sugil’s recovery, leading to the boy’s eventual demise. Character-wise, Sorya makes a point that …show more content…
p. 421). Throughout the story, Sugil’s mother never gave up fighting for her son’s recovery. Even when Sugil is murdered, she proceeds to barge into the missionary family’s house and attempts to seek justice (Sorya, 1951, p. 184). By not giving up, her experience perfectly symbolizes the “eternal struggle” rhetoric. Furthermore, even when she fails and is taken away by the police, she vows to not give up (Sorya, 1951, p. 187). Much like past Korean struggles against foreign enemies; her struggle against the American individuals may be seen as “inspirational.” Basically, Sorya may have hoped for the readers to become inspired and “rise up” for the future and security of their own country. To conclude, this response paper focuses on the anti-American aspect of the Jackals reading. By showcasing the American brutality and the mother fighting for her son’s survival, the novel serves as a perfect tool for the North Korean Regime. The eternal struggle rhetoric is arguably present and arguably serves to trigger an emotional response from Korean readers (more so due to past experiences like the U.S.