Rhetoric Shaping History

Bonnie and Clyde were American idols but their entry to fame was through robbery and murder. According to the history section of the FBI website they were young, unwed sweethearts who evaded the law from 1932 to 1934 (“Bonnie and Clyde,” retrieved from FBI.gov) Early in their crime spree the authorities confiscated pictures of the couple. The photos portrayed the couple as playful and in love. Bonnie like any other young girl adored the camera and enjoyed showcasing her style. As the media circulated the images the public became enamored of them more than they feared them. Jim Wright, a politician from Texas described them as, “good-looking and rich and happy,” admitting it was normal to “envy them” (qtd. in “The Irresistible Bonnie Parker”). Ultimately, this envy wasn’t enough to keep them from being shot and killed by police. However, the heft of the media compounded with the glimpse into their private photos romanticized this couple to the nation. The rhetoric surrounding Bonnie and Clyde seemed to camouflage the fact they murdered 13 people. Despite their ruthless killing they remain imprinted as American icons. Their legacy can still be experienced by visiting the Bonnie and Clyde museum and by staying in the Bonnie and Clyde suite of the StockYards Hotel. [1 image, 6 links, 1 quote, 206 words]

Source: https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/bonnie-and-clyde 

Source: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-irresistible-bonnie-parker-59411903/

Source: https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/10864

Source: http://www.stockyardshotel.com/rooms-suites/suites/bonnie-and-clyde/