Shelia and John are a couple that has been in a rocky relationship for 3 years, and recently just broke up. Their lease is up in thirty days so they will remain living in their apartment until then; they are both happy to be broken up, and do not wish to get back together but the only issue that remains between them is who will take ownership of their beloved German Shepard, Hippie. Shelia is an ER nurse that works at Mass General Hospital, and her extremely Bostonian ex-boyfriend John is a recently hired Firefighter EMT. Shelia is great at managing her time but is extremely stubborn and unable to see the other side of things. She is also the written owner of Hippie; however, John spends most of his time with him. John is very “caring”-especially about Shelia- and is able to communicate effectively. However, he can be very manipulating, over shining this with his “love” and wants to take Hippie out of spite for Shelia breaking up with him. They are in their apartment when they break out into a week-long argument about ownership of their needy dog.

John: Shelia, we should talk. Really, this has gone too far.

Shelia: What is it, I am trying to take a nap John I just worked 12 hours you know this. [1]

John: Let’s go into the kitchen and sit down, I want to have a serious talk with you. Just the three of us, it won't take long I don’t want to hinder you any longer.[2] I’ve been with you for three years, supported you, you owe this to me. [3]

Shelia: Okay okay sorry for being rude, let’s go sit down.

John: I am really trying Shelia, not to fix us but do what is best for Hipp-

Shelia: HIPPIE?! What does this have to do with him Jonathan! *sighs* Listen, he is my dog and is under my name. I know you have cared for him and gave him the love I could not- especially with my new job and having to go through orientation. I appreciate that, and I appreciate you.[4] But I am sorry, you cannot just sit me down and expect me to give up Hippie so easily just because we lived together for the past two years John; you know how much he needs me.[5]

John: I see your point and appreciate how calm you are being right now Shelia, especially after a 12-hour day.[6] I just wish you’d stop being so tense, and maybe trust me? I really love Hippie just as much as you do, and you maybe love him more than I ever can! I have been around for the past three years caring for him just as you do.[7] But, is that what he nee-

Shelia: Please do not tell me what my own dog needs; he is not ours, he is not yours, he is mine. My dog on paper, and in real life. Who knows, maybe when we go our separate ways, you’ll realize that firefighters really don’t have time for anyone but themselves. Do you even know what makes a real firefighter? Oh, wait you don’t, let me explain this to you. A real firefighter does not make his girlfriend come home to a disgusting apartment while she is working over 40 hours a week, or what about, I don’t know, cheat on his girlfriend?[8][9] Since you have had so much time on your hands while I was orienting at my new job, all of a sudden you think you have some sort of ownership over Hippie? Don’t you think you should’ve gotten a second job with all this extra time? [10]

John: Do you remember that time when you left to go to work and Hippie went to run after you? He was only a puppy, and ran away for the entire day- and as I remember correctly, who was the one who drove around all day to find him? ME SHELIAH, I DID. You act like you are always around for him. All great dog mothers spend quality time with their dogs.[11] You never are home. Therefore, how can you call yourself a “great dog mom?”[12] False advertisement on your IG is all I’m saying. Shelia, I have realized that no matter how attentive I am to your needs, it is never enough.[13]

Shelia: This is about Hippie, not about us. I have no feelings for you anymore, those went away when I found out about her. If you can’t be faithful to me, how can you be a good father to Hippie?[14] You were too busy screwing around with Cindy while I was at orientation, talk about free time huh?[15] Don’t you just think like you’re like THE BEST boyfriend ever?![16]  Free time to you is time to be unfaithful, and irresponsible![17]

John: This isn’t about you sweetheart, it’s about Hippie remember? I want to take ownership of Hippie, point blank. Don’t worry about my other love life, just because you couldn’t satisfy me.[18] Satisfaction to you is the equivalent of a hammer hitting a nail.[19] You can’t even keep up with my needs, how are you gonna keep up with Hippie when you are never home?[20] You can’t keep up with him, then he will get sick. If Hippie gets sick then he will die, and if he dies then his brothers back at home will become depressed, and then they will get sick. [21][22]

Shelia: You see, this isn’t what we are gonna do. I’m not going to sit here and talk you down, nor will you talk me down.[23] If you want ownership of my dog, you have to go through me. And while we are on this topic, isn’t it ironic how just after you saw Cindy, a sore magically appeared on your lip?[24] I don’t have any sores or STI’s because I get tested regularly,[25] so if I were you I’d check ya lip honey; that’ll answer your question to why I stay the hell away from you Mr. “Firefighter EMT.”[26][27]

…

Shelia: *Picks up phone* Hello?

John: Hey Shelia, I called you like 15 times this morning. Maybe your blind or something, but even blind people aren’t deaf, just saying.[28] Anyways, where did you take Hippie? Did he run away again under your care, wouldn’t be the first time right?[29]

Shelia: Oh yes, Cindy I MEAN, I MEAN JOHN! I am so sorry I completely forgot that was your name for a second! A boyfriend is someone you are in a commitment with and have a commitment to, are you my boyfriend?[30] [31] I could give a damn about you, so don’t call me demanding information, you know better.

John: We have a commitment to a lease in 29 days, right? So technically, I am still your roommate-boyfriend.[32] Is that… are you at the Veterinarians?

Shelia: Oh wow, you even recognize her by her voice! *click*

*Veterinarian walks into room*

Cindy: Hello Ms. Sheila-[33]

Shelia: Just Shelia, please.

Cindy: As you wish, Shei Well as you already know, your dog Hippie has had chronic diarrhea for the past few days.[34] After conducting a series of X-Rays of his lower abdominal cavity, it showed up on his scans that he has a Parvo Virus- this is a common problem amongst German Shepherds.[35]

Shelia: And what does this mean for Hippie, taking alternative medications so he can have an allergic reaction like last time? Then what, I come home one day from work and find my best friend in the entire world laying there, lifeless? DEAD?![36] Why should I trust you? A Veterinarian treats legitimate animals, not pigs- but you would know alot about those, right Dr. Cindy? [37][38]

Cindy: You must remain calm, and professional; jealousy is not a good look on anyone Shelia.[39] This simply means we need to prescribe Hippie with certain medications and IV fluids to assist in his quick recovery.[40] As for John, we have not seen each-other since that mistake; I cannot express how sorry I am.[41]

Shelia: SO, YOU WANT JOHN TO COME HERE IS THAT WHAT YOU’RE SAYING?[42]

Cindy: Shelia, I never mentioned John coming here, stop overreacting.[43] You should be overreacting about the fact your 6-year-old dog is severely sick and could rapidly decline at any moment; are your reactions concerning John- which are completely insecure and self-centered- going to help Hippie or kill him? [44][45]

Shelia: So, all German Shepherds are highly susceptible to this gut virus. Dogs with this virus can die, so is Hippie going to die? [46]

Cindy: If you decide to take time off work, and provide much needed care for your dog, then Hippie will not die. [47]

Shelia: I have much to think about. *looks at Hippie* Let’s go love muffin, we gotta go pick up your prescriptions.[48] Take care Cindy.

Cindy: OH, and uh Shelia… could you please have John call me. We may have a situation.[49]

Shelia: You want me to tell John to call you, what for?

Cindy: I may be pregnant.

In “Downward Dog,” my writing utilizes a number of rhetorical devices that are influenced by those found within the dialogue “Crito.” Overall, in Crito this writing is between two friends, which Socrates is in jail under a wrongful conviction, and believes it would be unjust if he escapes as an exile. His long best friend Crito visits him in prison in an attempt to convince him to escape. Throughout my dialogue, the character John is most closely related to Crito because of the similarities between the rhetorical devices both characters used. Crito is heavily reliant on Pathos-bringing up Socrates family and how cowardly he would be if he left his sons without a father -along with induction where he builds up an argument about the worry, he has that Socrates will not be accepted anywhere after his imprisonment. John supports his points of taking ownership of Hippie from Shelia with similar rhetorical devices, including appealing to her emotions through their relationship and attempting to sway her by speaking to her level headed. In relation, Shelia is similar to Socrates because she is rebutting arguments made against her by John. Socrates mostly appeals to ethos, as Shelia does talk about herself as Hippies owner “on paper and real life.” Her work of being a nurse also influences her credibility because of the empathetic nature connotated with being a nurse-as Socrates compares himself to a trainer in relation to how he would only listen to a credible individual about his health- and rebutting John using his own points through induction and deduction.

Within the dialogue “Crito,” in a hypothetical situation where I would be Crito and would be attempting to convince Socrates to escape from prison, rather than depending on pathos and guilt tripping my friend, I would utilize ethos and induction. Crito depended too heavily on appealing to his friends’ emotions, rather than speaking about his personal credibility to why his friend should trust him. Within my own dialogue, Crito’s failure to persuade his own friend propelled me to lean more towards induction, deduction, the use of ethos, and logos within one character. John appeals to Shelia using a wide variety of rhetorical devices, beginning with pathos and working his arguments using reasoning- making him most close to Crito. Shelia is most close to Socrates in the sense that she is the one trying to be convinced of something-giving up her dog-but consistently rebuttals his arguments using rhetorical question and stipulative definitions.

[1] Pathos
[2] Connotative Language
[3] Induction
[4] Pathos
[5] Pathos
[6] Pathos
[7] Ethos
[8] Stipulative Definition
[9] Rhetorical Question
[10] Logos
[11] Stipulative Definition
[12] Syllogism
[13] Pathos
[14] Induction
[15] Rhetorical Question
[16] Rhetorical Question
[17] Ostensive Definition
[18] Pathos
[19] Ostensive Definition
[20] Syllogism
[21]Pathos 
[22] Slippery Slope Fallacy
[23] Logos
[24] Rhetorical Question
[25] Ethos
[26] Deduction
[27] Irony
[28] Stipulative Definition
[29] Rhetorical Question
[30] Rhetorical Question
[31] Stipulative Definition
[32] Ostensive Definition
[33] Pathos
[34] Logos

 
[35] Logos
[36] Slippery Slope
[37] Ostensive Definition
[38] Rhetorical Question
[39] Stipulative Definition

 
[40] Logos
[41] Pathos

 
[42]Stipulative Definition
[43] Pathos
[44] Ad Hominem
[45] Pathos
[46] Syllogism
[47] Logos
[48] Pathos
[49] Stipulative Definition