Final rhetorical analysis revision

1. When Prisoners Protest
I chose to analyze “When Prisoners Protest”, by Wilbert Rideau. This article was written July
16th
2013 and published by The New York Times. Rideau wrote this article explaining the
misconception of solitary confinement in prison, with hopes to grab the attention of any politician or
person of power. I believe Rideau wrote this text from his own experience and the injustice of
prisoners’ perception behind bars. His experience in various prisons developed a broad perspective
on how no one truly cares about a prisoners’ rights. Overall Rideau is a man who endured the prison
life first hand, and speaks on his journey and through the mind of other inmates. He believed many
people in prison are not rehabilitated for life and society once released. His tone comes off very
concerned while using the English language to convey his message.
Wilbert Rideau objective in this text was to make one think into the prison system. He Knows the
facts of being locked up in solitary confinement. He pointed at how authorities have absolute power
and inmates must sustain obedience at all times. He touched on the “outcry of inmates” and how
many are subjected to solitary confinement without any reformation. He stated how something must
be done to revive humans from animalistic treatment in our society, or they will inherit cruel and
outrageous behavior. He understands prison consequences but not the aspect of being in solitude
for such a long period.
The rhetoric of “When Prisoners Protest” gives a feeling of injustice behind a correctional institute.
The story is summed up from the word of a man who spent majority of his life behind bars. Rideau is
a man who established his life in a system that was created for failure but turned his life around. He
speaks on how prison is not formatted for everyone to cope. He talks about how various prisons
have better understanding of a prisoner rehab process and how many prisons in his life offers no
good resources to help. Rideau spent 44 years in prison and learned how to adapt to his
surroundings. His sanity became number one priority and he fought to keep his mind right and not
distorted or delusional in confinement. During his time in solitary confinement he counted rivets to
occupy his mind. I know many who has endured unjust pain through the justice system and I believe
he is a prime example of deliverance and perseverance.
The evidence is clear, Rideau spent a mass majority in prison (44 years) and 12 years in solitary
confinement, which is an effective appeal to ethos. He states “And I can tell you that isolating a
human for years in a barren cell the size of a bathroom is the cruelest thing you can do to a person”.
This statement shows his compassion and appeals to pathos. He knows not only the basis of prison
but the insight of solitary confinement. Rideau believes that solitary confinement is detrimental to an
inmate’s mental health. Officials should take time to understand the inmates more, he states “Too
bad because making responsible inmates partners in managing prison problems has worked
extremely well in Louisiana State Penitentiary, where the warden and sub-warden have, for
decades, regularly met with inmate leader to discuss problems. It has gone from being one of the
bloodiest to one of the safest maximum security prisons in America”. His observation of facts in the
Louisiana State Prison expresses logos.
Rideau knows through research and personal experience that the systematic problem in prison can
be resolved. His experience throughout different prisons has made him developed an understanding
solution for mental and emotional abuse. He asked “Why should you be concerned about the
inhumane conditions of prolonged solitary confinement, with all the social, emotional and mental
deterioration that it entails?” Well if you think about it, all these prisoners are subjected to be
released into our society and be around our families, children, and loved ones.

2. These people are deprived of any compassion to deal within the real world of everyday life and may
re-offend if not given the proper resources to cope. When an inmate is released without great
knowledge of society he/she can become deranged and dysfunctional in our world and cause more
havoc than before. About 68% of all inmates do re-offend when released to society. Mistreating
inmates in prison has resulted in hunger strikes and riots at times. This is only a cry out for help.
When one is treated wrong for so long they are conditioned to negative behavior. I do believe there
is a better solution to decrease inmates from re-offending. Inmates should correspond with officials
to make a better outcome in and out of the prison walls. Inmates that are not fully rehabilitate will
create a negative perception on our society and possibly a huge threat to civilians. They are more
likely to carry more anger than before because of their constant cruelness. This personally concerns
me, being that I have a family and want to live amongst as many stable minds as possible. When
any person is mistreated too long the will adapt to a bitter and hateful way. Therefore, Istrongly
agree with Rideau in making a fair and better solution in our correctional institutions. We know it is
possible but it must be priority. Well trained professional must make a solution to poor conditions in
jail, and solve the issues in our prison systems to restore our faith in people who are subjected to be
a part of our society.
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