Samuel Johnson Letter Rhetorical Analysis In this letter, Samuel Johnson is faced with the plight of a woman whose utmost desire is to have her son admitted into a prestigious university. She seeks the help of him, believing that he could utilize his connections in order to help her achieve her goal. In response, Johnson sensibly crafts a denial so that the woman is gently refused. From a thoughtful progression to a careful word choice, Johnson argues his position, smoothly denying Madam of her wish. Instead of introducing his argument from the beginning, Johnson starts vaguely explaining the concept of hope, describing its characteristics, both as the “chief happiness of the world,” as well as it being “immoderately enjoyed.” He culminates
