Rhetorical Analysis- Song

"Glass House"

~WATCO: What are the consequences of pointing a finger at others on you actually being the one at fault?

~Enthymeme:(Claim): People ridicule others for their flaws or circumstances but they too (the accuser) have their own faults too.
Assumption (Reason): Because humans make mistakes others point out their faults, but there are usually hypocrites who are to blame as well.

~Audience: The audience is to those who may go about life, in a blind manner. Those who may appear as being snobby, or prideful are the focus of this song.

~Goal: The goal of the song is to let people know that if they can't take the heat in return, don't give it to people.

~How & Why: Peter Tosh, the singer of "Glass House" tells the story of if you live in a glass house don't throw stones. Damaging words or actions to others are just as damaging in return. Tosh gives a teaching feel to the song and verifies it by a biblical reference of the Golden Rule when he says

Harm no man
Let no man harm you
Do unto others
As they would do to you

He scolds the wrong doer by calling them liars being filled with illusions. Tosh calls himself a man here on earth doing the good work, and if you disagree there just might be some contention.

~Effective: The lyrics work when it's a song, as he tells of someone who might live their lives not knowing, but others around can see what's wrong. Since the person is naive and may not see it, that is why the message had to be so direct. I could imagine this not working in a face-to-face conversation, but for a reggae upbeat song, a deep message can be translated successfully to a light feeling with an upbeat attitude.

Glass House - Peter Tosh