ANALYSIS OF DEBT AND SIN MARGARET ATWOOD

This argument emphasizes the central claim of the piece, which is sin and debt have a relationship, actually, debt and sin are one and the same thing. Debt is a sin. Through Toulminian model, the argument could be elaborated as follows: Claim: debt is sin Grounds: word for sin and debt in Aramaic is the same. Also, Jesus died to pay for our ‘sins’ so humans can be redeemed. We pay off debts so as to be free from the debtors, meaning, through sins, we are indebted to God and therefore the death of Jesus freed us from the debt. For creditors, you can’t take it with you,”(80). • “if you do this yourself, you' find that "debts" was used by John Wycliffe in his 1381 translation and "trespasses" in Tyndale 1526 version (45).

But it's interesting to note that in Aramaic, the Semitic language that was spoken by Jesus, the word for debt and the word for "sin" are the same. So you translate this word as "forgive us our debts/sins," or even "our sinful debts," though no translator has chosen to do this yet,” (45) • At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release,” says Deuteronomy 15:1 and 2. every creditor that lendeth ought unto his neighbor shall release it; he shall not exact it of his neighbor, or of his brother because it is the Lord's release. Use of personal example • I was in the public one, which was interpreter than to mean Protestant, so we did a certain amount of praying and Bible reading right in the classroom, presided over by a portrait of the King and Queen of England and Canada in crowns and medals and jewelry, watching us benevolently from the back of the room," (44) descriptive language.

Ethos- Margaret Atwood uses ethos as a way of appealing to authority. • John Wycliffe “…in his 1381 translation and “trespasses” in Tyndale’s 1526 version. • Reverend Jennie C. …author of an excerpt in a blog of the lovely old Saint James Santee • Episcopal Church near McClellanville, South Carolina…” (46). Form: The author makes known the problems caused by debts, which she despises through the following devices: Appeals to pathos Descriptive language one-sided argument one sided argument Use of personal examples Anecdote …therefore, there is an inconsistent relationship between form and content Because, there are instances where form supports while in other cases, form contradicts the content content Living within one’s means is better because individuals are able to have stress free lives without risking losing their assets to financial institutions/friends Debts are less desirable because paying them off weighs down the victims, some sink deeper in the situation and are not able to clear the debts, leading to depression.

Debts are less desirable because they make life better for a short while but situations get worse shortly after • Appeals to ethos • Various binaries between sins and debt Appeals to pathos • Descriptive language • Use of personal example • Anecdote • One sided argument “How” and “so what” ? • (How): In this essay, the message of the consequences of debts are brought out through a learned but never pedantic history of the world's culture of how debt evolved to trespass, then to thoughtlessness among societies and then to selfishness. Margaret delivers a message with a heavy moral content, but despite this, she retains her elegance and a fine sense of humor. • (so what?): the manner in which the message is brought out makes it easier for people of all kinds to relate and comprehend where she comes from.

Those that rely on borrowed money begin to question their decisions and pan to live within their means, while those considering to borrow change their minds.