Kourtney Schow
Ricken
English 101
21 September 2010
Loving to Death
Music is a form of art which plays an important part in our everyday lives. Throughout history people have used many forms of music to communicate different types of messages in many different ways. One of the best qualities of music is that it can unite a number of people together that might not come together on a normal basis. It can also have a physically powerful effect on one’s emotions. A profound example of this is, “Love the Way You Lie,” a hit rap song by Eminem featuring Rihanna. “Love the Way You Lie” is a very thought provoking and emotionally driven song that reaches out to a variety of audiences, from teens to adults. The song’s purpose is to address the issue of the abusive and codependent cycle that is present in some relationships, whether the abuse is physical, emotional, or a combination of both. In “Love the Way You Lie,” Eminem informs individuals of the control and power that can negatively engulf a relationship, employing the rhetorical strategies of claim and pathos.
When considering the rhetorical strategy of claim, the final verse of “Love the Way You Lie,” emphasizes Eminem’s message most profoundly. It states:
“Next time I’m pissed I’ll aim my fist at the drywall.
Next time there won’t be no next time.
I apologize even though I know it’s lies.
I’m tired of the games. I just want her back.
I know I’m a liar. If she ever tries to f**kin’ leave again,
I’ma tie her to the bed and set this house on fire.”
The male, Eminem, makes his claim that he does not want to play these games anymore, but he is not controlled enough, or strong enough, to fight his anger. He promises that he will control his temper, but he is simply lying to provide a temporary and unrealistic solace in the abusive cycle that exists in the relationship. Eminem’s statement is very bold when he admits he is a liar. However, he also knows that he can say that he will change, but deep down, he truly will not.
The female, Rihanna, knows this is all a lie, but she loves the man so much that she can’t walk away. In the Chorus of the song she states her claim when she sings the emotionally powerful and disturbing lyrics:
“Just gonna stand there and watch me burn.
Well that’s all right because I like the way it hurts.
Just gonna stand there and hear me cry.
Well that’s all right because I love the way you lie.
I love the way you lie.”
Rihanna’s chorus, which actually begins the song, directly integrates into Eminem’s claim that is stated in the final six lines of the song and quoted above. Eminem raps about starting the house on fire and Rihanna sings of him watching her burn. Rihanna “loves the way he lies” because in his lies, Eminem promises that things will change, that the abusive cycle will stop. However, while offering momentary hope of change, the abuse continues. It is simply the same story, just a different day.
Furthermore, the lyrics that reference “fire” and “burning” are symbolic of the “hell” that the relationship is for both of them. Rihanna likes “the way it hurts” because she is too afraid to stop the abuse and move to a healthier life and relationship.
Additionally, these particular lyrics rapped by Eminem and sung by Rihanna, are what make the song most powerful. They are indicative of the claim and meaning by both the male and female that relationships can be codependent and an abusive struggle. Many people find themselves in the situation of either being the controller (abuser) or the one being controlled (abused). As is depicted in this song, Eminem is the controller, whereas, Rihanna is the one being controlled. The scenario is volatile and the energy is not focused on a mutually healthy love, but abuse and dependant.
The second rhetorical strategy employed in the song, “Love the Way You Lie,” is pathos. Pathos is used by making the audience feel the deep emotions of love, sympathy, and anger. The lyrics of “Love the Way You Lie,” portray a couple that loves one another, although the “love” is unhealthy, controlling, and abusive.
In truth, anyone, who has been in love before, knows how strong the emotion can be and the hold it can have on a person. The lyrics in “Love the Way You Lie,” evoke sympathy for the woman who is abused and anger towards the man who is the abuser. In fact, even though the man has admitted he lies and will keep abusing the woman, the woman believes his lies because she loves him too much and is too dependent on the unhealthy interactions and relationship. The audience sympathizes with the torture of this woman’s plight in a relationship of unhealthy “love” and recognizes the horror of the possibility of watching the woman burn and hearing her cry, at the hands of her abuser.
In addition to the sympathy that one feels for the woman, the audience cannot help but feel anger and disdain for the man that abuses her. In the song, the woman attempts to leave, but the man convinces her into returning by promising that things will be different. The reality is that he apologizes, “even though (he) knows its lies.”
Furthermore, even though the arguments and battles depicted in the lyrics have a feeling of mutuality at times, the reality of the situation is that the abuser is projecting his behavior on the woman that he abuses, trying to justify his abusive actions and reactions. When the abused woman wants to leave, the man will not let her. In truth, Eminem ends his song with the ultimate abusive threat that if the woman tries to leave again, the man will “tie her to the bed and set this house on fire.” This particular statement ultimately depicts to the audience the horror and hopelessness of the abused woman’s situation and evokes anger and disdain for the male who controls her.
In conclusion, music can have a physically powerful effect on one’s emotions. “Love the Way You Lie,” is a profound example of this. Eminem informs individuals of the control and power that can negatively engulf a relationship, employing the rhetorical strategies of claim and pathos. Ultimately, the lyrics convey the difficulty of trying to break the cycle of abuse. While in turn, the depiction of the couple’s unhealthy love evokes sympathy and anger. The truth of the song, “Love the Way You Lie,” is that in some relationships the cycle is simply the horror of loving to death.
--- anyways we got the grade back today and well i got an A+ yupp 100/100
hahah i was so excited :) our next paper is a "how to" paper.. and i did "how to make a girl fall in love" i will post it when its completly finished!
