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Alexa Saldana

Mrs.Carroll, Mr.Crain-Davis, Mr.Uribe, Ms.Marrs, Ms.Wilczynski

American Literature

March 17, 2019

Universal beauty

In Lucille Tompkins book review of Zora Neale Hurston’s, Their Eyes Were Watching

God, she argues that the book is for everyone and it's beautiful. Tompkins strengthens the logic

of how universal and beautiful the novel is by using pathos and strong word choice.

Tompkins use of emotions within her book review shines light on how universal the

book is. Within the second paragraph of the book review she starts stating “so she wanted Jamie

born in Freedom, to have advantages” which implies that everyone wants freedom. The use of

pathos helps build thoughts of wanting freedom and that with having freedom people gain

advantage worldwide. Towards the end of paragraph two Tompkin continues the use of

emotions in stating “what she wanted for Jamie was protection”. Tompkin uses the emotions of

everyone's parents to imply that protection is universal. Pathos usage builds the argument of

how the novel is for everyone to persuade her audience. She also uses the technique of using

exquisite word choice.

Tompkins strong word choice throughout the book review strengthens the logic of how

beautiful the book really is. In paragraph three of the book review Tompkin states “her place

looked like heaven to them”. The use of the word heaven shows the beauty of the character's life

since heaven is where everyone wants to go to be happy. In the last paragraph words such as

“Shining”, “ dialect” and “ irresistible” all build the argument as to how beautiful the novel is.
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Tompkins diction shows that the novel is bright and that it attracts people which implies the

beauty within the novel therefore building her argument.

Lucille Tompkin builds an argument on how universal and beautiful the book, Their

Eyes Were Watching God, is with the use of pathos and diction. Emotions play a huge role in

the book review and a strong word choice also helps the reader get a sense of the universal

beauty behind it all.