Allow me to illustrate what I am talking about and how rhetorical questions can be used to make a point. Rhetorical questions do not require an answer; they are merely used to emphasize the point being made. When I was little one day I emptied the cornflake packet on the floor in the kitchen and proceeded to stomp on them in my gumboots. I must have liked the crunch they made. [I can’t think of any other reason why I would have done that.] My mother came in and caught me in the act and used three rhetorical questions in her escalating anger.
- Ian, what are you doing?
- Ian Vail, what do you think you’re doing?
- Ian Warren Vail, what on earth do you think you are doing? (she always used my full name when she was mad with me)
None of these questions need answering and in fact I couldn’t have answered some of them if I tried.
The first one my mother knew the answer to very well. I guess I could have said “I am stomping on the cornflakes in my gumboots.” But she could see that for herself. She didn’t need me to tell her.
Maybe the second one was a psychological question it seemed. What do you think you’re doing? Well mum, I thought I was stomping on the cornflakes but tell me is there something more to this that I don’t know?
Perhaps the third one was an existential question. What are you on this earth for Ian? Well mum I think I am on this earth to stomp on cornflakes.