Logos of "Masters of War"

           As stated in our post about the ethos of “Masters of War,” people knew Bob Dylan as a rebellious soul. Unsurprisingly, in “Masters of War” he went against “the man” and criticized America’s involvement in Vietnam. With Dylan’s reputation as a protestor in mind, one can clearly identify his logical argument of the song. Dylan argued that the politicians, the “masters,” responsible for the fighting in Vietnam caused great amounts violence and death, unaware and apathetic to the true effects of their actions. He supports his belief of the masters’ indifference through the lyrics, “You fasten the triggers for the others to fire. Then you set back and watch when the death count gets higher. You hide in your mansion as young people’s blood, flows out of their bodies and is buried in mud.” These words show that the politicians did not care about the rising death toll in Vietnam; as long as they could hide from the violence, they were content. He also asserts his belief that the government officials did not care about the lives of the soldiers through the lyrics, “You play with my world like it’s your little toy.” The comparison of Bob’s life to a toy demonstrates how the politicians did not take their actions seriously. In addition, Bob Dylan strengthens his argument further by appealing to logos through the use of allusions. For example, he states, “But there’s one thing I know, though I’m younger than you. Even Jesus would never forgive what you do.” 
By inserting this widely historical/religious figure, Dylan makes use of an assumption that almost everyone understands. Therefore, the audience can use previous knowledge about Jesus to make the conclusion that the actions of the masters of war were so heinous that even the One known for loving all people could never forgive the politicians’ deeds. Although Dylan makes a stronger appeal to pathos in his song, “Masters of War” has elements of logos that help the audience form an opinion, perhaps one similar to that of the writer’s.