It is the result of an emotional hangover and a temporary moral lapse which follows every war. It is the apathy to evil which people who have been subjected to the tremendous evils of war feel. As the people of the world see mass murder, the destruction of defenseless and innocent people, and all of the crime and lack of morals which go with war, they become numb and apathetic. It has always been thus after war. However, the morals of our people have not been destroyed. They still exist. This cloak of numbness and apathy has only needed a spark to rekindle them. Happily, this spark has finally been supplied.
Which best states the meaning of the rhetoric McCarthy uses in this passage?
Enemies from Within
The personification of “numbness” having a “cloak” makes apathy seem like a villain.
The alliteration of “destruction” and “defenseless” helps the audience remember the victims of war.
The metaphor of a “spark” and a rekindling makes morals seem like a flame that can burn away corruption.
The analogy of a “moral lapse” makes the idea of the effects of war more understandable.
It's "The metaphor of a “spark” and a rekindling makes morals seem like a flame that can burn away corruption."
The metaphor of a “spark” and a rekindling makes morals seem like a flame that can burn away corruption. (But I have to ask, why would morals need to be rekindled if they were in fact destroyed?)
The metaphor of a "spark" and a rekindling makes morals seem like a flame that can burn away corruption.
The best explanation of the rhetoric McCarthy uses in this passage is the metaphor of a "spark" and a rekindling making morals seem like a flame that can burn away corruption. The passage describes the post-war apathy and numbness that people feel towards evil and immoral acts. McCarthy suggests that this apathy can be overcome by a spark, which represents a catalyst or a triggering event that can reignite people's morality and restore their sense of empathy and concern for others. This metaphor creates a hopeful and optimistic tone, suggesting that even after experiencing the atrocities of war, people still possess moral values that can be revived and strengthened.
