Address & Argument

Parrhesia

pa-RAY-zhuh / pəˈreɪziə

Speaking frankly despite a risk of offending others or suffering consequences. A claim to frankness may encourage trust, but does not guarantee honesty.

Kent to Lear: "be Kent unmannerly, / When Lear is mad… What wouldst thou do, old man?"

Don't confuse it with Apophasis. Apophasis pretends *not* to say the thing; parrhesia says it and points at its own daring.

Drill its family — Address & Argument

Examples

You may dismiss me for saying this, Minister, but your order is dishonest.

Practice example · written for this exercise

The speaker directly states a criticism while acknowledging the personal risk.

The rest of the family

Rhetorical Question Apostrophe Invocation Aphorism Enthymeme Correctio / Epanorthosis Metabasis Amplificatio Aporia Enargeia / Vivid Specificity