 There are several elements that contribute to the success of an author’s piece. The author must persuade the reader to see from their point of view and to understand their message through a variety of literary techniques. “The Journey” by Mary Oliver effectively establishes pathos and therefore persuades the reader that self- discovery is important through the use of auditory references, repetition and appropriately setting the tone.  

Mary Oliver includes several elements that contribute to her larger message of self-discovery.  The first element is the use of auditory references.  There is a voice throughout the poem that is trying to influence the reader.  This voice creates a sense of emotion in the poem as well as a sense of emotion within the reader.  For example, Oliver writes “Though the voices around you kept shouting.” (Oliver 3) which first introduces a sense of influence.  The word “shouting” is particularly interesting in this sentence because of its context.  When someone is shouting at you, you usually feel inferior, therefore Oliver is immediately trying to convey a message that the subject is trying to be persuaded by an outside source. Oliver also conveys this message in the sentence “’Mend my life!’ each voice cried” (Oliver 10). This sentence suggests the voice is demanding.  Oliver included this line in the poem to show the strength of the opposing force. Finally, Oliver includes a positive auditory reference. “As you left their voices behind, the stars began to burn through the sheets of clouds, and there was a new voice that you slowly recognized as your own” (Oliver 24).  Suddenly, there is a change in emotion instilled in both the subject and the reader. The subject finally starts to experience a sense of light as he recognizes his own voice. The purpose of the author describing the voices is to show how the subject has forces against him amidst the challenge of him trying to find oneself.  

Another rhetorical element Oliver uses to convey her message is repetition.  The sentence with the largest impact is “You knew what you had to do” (Oliver 13).  The purpose of this line being repeated two times is to show the difference over time in the subject’s thoughts. The first line using this sentence reads “One day you finally knew what you had to do, and began” (Oliver 1).  Oliver specifically uses the words “one day” and “finally” to represent that the subject has dealt with the issue for a while and eventually comes in agreement with oneself about overcoming this obstacle.  In the second line where this sentence is used Oliver writes, “You knew what you had to do” (Oliver 13).  The difference between the first and second line is that the first line is the subject’s initial thoughts where they are finally agreeing to embark on the journey and in the second line they begin to discuss the struggles leading up to the journey.  For example, “You felt the old tug” (Oliver 8).  The word “old” here is a self-referencing because it refers to what the subject felt before he “finally knew.”  The author also writes in third person and often repeats the word “you.”  The purpose of this is for the author to engage the reader in the text and allow them to feel as if they connect with the subject’s challenge.  Oliver uses pathos through repetition to successfully convey the poem’s theme.  

Oliver uses pathos to set the tone of the poem. She uses short sentences which allow for a dramatic but serious tone. For example, “Though the whole house began to tremble and you felt the old tug at your ankles” (Oliver 6).  The purpose of Oliver including this line is to convey a dark tone, which influences the effect of her message.  This dark tone makes Oliver’s message come across as more serious to the reader. Also, the author intentionally organizes the poem into a dense narrow column which effects the way the reader interprets the story, therefore effecting the readers take away. Another sentence that influences the tone of the poem is “It was already late enough, and a wild night, and the road full of fallen branches and stones” (Oliver 19). This sentence depicts a chaotic scene.  The purpose of Oliver including this sentence is to persuade the reader into feeling the hectic and demanding challenge of this journey. The last few lines of the poem leave the reader with a different emotion. The final lines of the poem are “Determined to do the only thing you could do- determined to save the only life you could save” (Oliver 33). Here the authors change in tone is evident through the use of the word “determined” because this is a positive word.  The tone previously all through-out the poem has been negative; therefore, we see a change in the subject’s emotions which thereby instills a change in the reader’s emotions. Without the tone of the poem being set the reader would have a difficult time understanding if the author was in favor or against self-discovery. Therefore, the tone of the poem successfully influences the reader’s emotions towards finding oneself.   

As a result of this evidence, Oliver is able to convince her readers of the importance of self-discovery through the use of pathos. Auditory references enable Oliver to show the reader the opposing force again the subject and its impact on self-discovery.  She also uses the effect of repetition to emphasize the change in the subject throughout the struggle of the journey.  Finally, the author uses tone to help the reader feel the struggle and the impact on the subject.  This evidence successfully demonstrates to the reader the emotions throughout “The Journey” and the impact they have on her theme of self-discovery.  


 