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  • Essay / Pythia Peay's Soul Search - 794

    Pythia Peay's Soul Search Most people are identified by where they come from and the type of environment they are accustomed to. In the short story “Soul Searching” by Pythia Peay, the topic discussed is the city a person lives in and how it ends up becoming a part of their soul. Many rhetorical appeals are deployed throughout the article, and these methods succeed in conveying to the reader how much a city can become a part of an individual. Peay decides to use his hometown of Washington, DC to demonstrate his home identification argument. For any article, it is important to identify the rhetorical triangle and obtain the basic information to deepen the understanding of a topic. The first piece of the rhetorical triangle is the author. Pythia Peay is a writer best known for her work in the areas of spirituality and psychology. His writings tend to focus on specific areas such as "the soul of the city, the messages of our nightly dreams, the spiritual passage of death, the sacred bonds of friendship, and the wisdom of ancient myths" ( duplain.com). She has been a columnist for over twenty years and has published numerous articles in "Utne Reader, George, New Age Journal, New Woman, Publisher's Weekly and Beliefnet.com" (www.duplain.com). Some of his well-known journal articles include his comments on "reincarnation, dreams, healing and other spiritual topics" (duplain.com). Peay's credibility on this subject is valid when looking at his track record. In addition to checking an author's credibility, a certain audience is always trying to be reached in any piece of writing. “Soul Searching” is aimed at any American citizen living in a metropolis. Although the middle of the paper states “…she receives regular doses of inspiration from the Georgetown Flea Market and the Potomac River” (Peay 3). Because she observes these specific areas, she knows Washington, DC and describes her hometown well. Each rhetorical appeal reinforces Pythia Peay's point of view and enhances the information he is trying to convey. Finally, Pythia Peay establishes her opinion of home as where the heart is through the format used. Deciding to divide the essay into six sections is effective in making it easier to read. The landscape, the history, the influential people, the heart of a city, the wounds of a city, and the places where individuals gather are all detailed descriptions of a city and describe the subject of its writings. Peay's writing method is easy to follow and conveys his points very well, inviting the reader to think similarly about his hometown..