When hearing the word angel, there is a wide choice of common images one can think of. One might think of a loved friend, a beautiful woman, or even a holiday. The image in which I plan to discuss in is that of a guardian. Musician Sarah Mclachlan recently released a new hit song entitled, "angel." This song represents individuals who have a sense of loneliness and suffer from various types of depression. Whether regarding a job, schoolwork, parenting, etc., I believe that anyone, in some shape or form, can relate to this song personally. In order to provide a thorough rhetorical criticism, I find it necessary to perform Kenneth Burke's dramatistic pentad. Burke states, “the job of communication is to help bring people together" (Burke, 177). I believe that songs help people come together and give a better understanding of themselves as individuals. Songs also provide a sense of relaxation, which helps individuals open their minds to new ideas.
             Depression plays a major role throughout the lyrics of this song. The scene takes place in a hotel room where an individual, or the songwriter, is in a moment in time where life is difficult and incomprehensible. They are taking a moment to glance at their previous memories and attempt to grasp their meaning of life. This is evident through the act portrayed in the lyrics:
             I'll find some peace tonight (Mclachlan).
             "Depressed individuals generally regard their condition as irreversible" (Abnormal Psychology, 233). The individual personified in this song is alone, restless, and unfaithful. It is in this sense that the agent and agency are evident. Mclachlan sings of an angel in order to help the individual through suffering and anxiety. The fact that the scene takes place in a hotel room indicates that the territory in which the individual is physically confronted with is unfamiliar and impersonal. The individual is confronting a territory mentally that may be familia...