Hitchens starts the second paragraph off by recounting the Parthenon history. Centuries of perversions, abuse and desecration were suffered by this magnificent building. In telling this brief introduction to the topic, the author provides the audience the sufficient information to understand why the controversy ocurred. On the contrary, it would not make sense building an argument if the readers do not know what the discussion is about. Moreover, the author establishes credibility and knowledge about the subject discussed inasmuch as the audience can observe that he is an expert on the area. He also uses allusions to art, when he mentions a well-famous paint, the Mona Lisa: "If the Mona Lisa had been sawed in two during the Napoleonic Wars and the separated halves had been acquired by different museums in, say, St. …show more content…
According to the writer, "the temple had two massive pediments decorated with the figures of Pallas Athena, Poseidon, and the gods of the sun and the moon". Through all the desciptions, the author transmits something much more meaningful than the explicit information: The passion he feels about the building. Accordingly, the audience can empathize with the argument being made. However, this is not the only function that imagery fulfills in the article. Sensory details challenge the audience, especially those who have not ever seen the Parthenon, to imagine its spledor and sublime beauty. Consequently, readers will feel distressed because of its actual