Analysis Of Paul Bogard's Let There Be Dark

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In the work “ Let There Be Dark”, the author Paul Bogard discusses the importance of darkness and the negative effects of too much artificial light. He is able convey his message while still appealing to the readers through the use of loaded words, using ethos through research studies, and draws upon pathos by appealing to the reader's emotions. Bogard is able to set the scene for his readers effectively through the use of words that provoke feelings greater than its definition. He begins his argument through the use of a personal anecdote in which him and his family had gone camping on the shore of a Minnesota lake. He goes on to explain “ I knew night skies in which meteors left smoky trails across sugary spreads of stars” (Bogard). The use of words such as smoky and sugary invokes a different and equally meaningful depiction in each and every soul. Personally, for me when I think about the word smoky I’m taken back to a hot July day with my Dad out in the backyard; watching the smoke condensate from the grill while the barbecue cooks to perfection. Sugary, on the other hand, …show more content…
One of his main claims is that darkness is necessary for the human body to function properly. He goes on to say “ Our bodies need darkness to produce the hormone melatonin, which keeps certain cancers from developing, and our bodies need darkness for sleep. Sleep disorders have been linked to diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease and depression, and recent research suggests one main cause of “short sleep” is “long light.”” (Bogard). Although the reader may not have a complete understanding of these foundations these improve the credibility of the author which is the use of ethos. These credible sources and their research work allows us as readers to dive deeper and acknowledge the publishing for its