The excerpt from Fast Food Nation that best illustrates the use of the rhetorical appeal pathos is when the author describes the working conditions of the slaughterhouse workers.
The author describes the workers as being covered in blood and guts, and having to work in extremely cold temperatures. This description emphasizes the emotional appeal of the author’s argument by emphasizing how terrible these conditions are for humans, especially when they are expected to do their jobs under such circumstances.
The author argues that the fast food industry preys on the emotions of consumers by targeting them with advertising that is designed to make them feel good about the product. He argues that these ads are successful because they appeal to people’s emotions and make them feel happy about eating fast food instead of making them feel guilty about doing so.
The author contends that the fast food industry is responsible for contributing to the obesity epidemic in America. He argues that this is because fast food restaurants are able to convince people who are looking for quick solutions to their hunger problems (and who may not be thinking clearly due to their hunger) into eating unhealthy foods at an affordable price point instead of making healthier choices like cooking at home or going out.
