Right to Happiness by C.S. Essay

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Furthermore, his choice to relate to his audience with humor and situations that they can understand allows him to tailor his argument to this audience. For example, Lewis sets out to show that the "right to happiness" is not considered a right in all matters, but only in sexual matters. He does this by suggesting that Clare, who was "rather leftist in her politics," would most likely take issue with someone who stated that "his happiness consisted in making money and he was pursuing his happiness," while pursuing money in a way that was harmful to others. Another example is his point that Clare might object to her friends' pursuit of happiness when that pursuit included "boxing her ears" (Lewis). Humor can also be found in Lewis's word choice and phraseology. For instance his statement that everything goes if "the object aimed at is 'four bare legs in a bed," is so ridiculous and crudely put that it becomes amusing. Similarly, drawing a similarity between morality that allows everything and anything when it comes to sexual behavior and "a morality in which stealing fruit is considered wrong -- unless you steal nectarines" is an amusing parallel that emphasizes the absurdity of the morality that Lewis is trying to expose. Thus, by using humor and situations to which the audience can relate, Lewis' appeals to this group, capturing their attention and proving that he is writing directly to them.

Finally, Lewis suggests an intimate knowledge of his audience not simply through the tactics he uses to gain and keep their attention, but also through his subject matter.

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First, Lewis suggests that he understands the counterarguments that his audience might have against his philosophy. By addressing them through understanding and compassion, he suggests that forming such counterarguments, while not correct, is reasoned. For instance, he begins by stating the opposition's arguments regarding a puritanical attitude toward sexuality, and suggests that this attitude is not his own. Further, he implies that he understands the opposition's argument when he states that he sees "no good reason for giving sex this privilege, I think I see a strong cause" (Lewis). That strong cause is "the nature of strong erotic passion," love, and the fact that humans associate this with great importance. While Lewis goes on to define a different kind of love, he admits that he both understands and values his audience's assumptions.

Thus, in "We Have No Right to Happiness," C.S. Lewis suggests a strong knowledge of his audience and their attitude toward the topic. Through both stylistic and content, Lewis caters to that audience, identifying with them, establishing himself as an authority, and moving through their ideas and counterarguments to explain the superiority of his idea.

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