The Melian Dialogue

An allusion is a reference to information, events, or topics that exist outside the scope of the text at hand. Allusion can be either indirect (not mentioned explicitly, e.g., “big brother” from Orwell’s 1984, for controlling authority figures), or direct (specifically naming the reference, e.g., referring to a beautiful location as an “Eden”). It is always employed under the presumption of a shared body of knowledge, whether cultural, historical, religious, or literary. In “The Melian Dialogue,” the Athenians use allusion as a rhetorical technique early in their debate: “[w]e shall not bulk out our argument with lofty language, claiming that our defeat of the Persians gives us the right to rule” (Section 89). The Melians, as all Greeks, know the pivotal role Athens played in the defense of Greece against the Persians. Despite the words of the Athenians, their tone is ironic—they are indeed arguing that they deserve the deference of the Melians.

An assertion is a common rhetorical device in persuasive speech, a claim which the speaker declares to be true. It forms the premise of that which follows, i.