Intention

Inform about her challenges and successes

One of Michelle Obama’s intentions in her preface to Becoming is to inform readers of some of the challenges she has faced throughout the many roles she has adopted, as well as the successes she has achieved. For example, she informs readers of the difficulties of her time spent in the White House, such as the fact that she could not go anywhere without guards or was not allowed to open a window.

Obama also uses ethos to inform people of her experience and credibility not only as First Lady, but as a woman with several other jobs as well. For instance, she mentions being “a lawyer” (l. 10), “a vice president at a hospital” (l. 10), and “the director of a non profit” (ll. 10-11). Part of her intention here is to remind readers that she has been successful in her own right, and not just because of her husband’s career.

Persuade readers to continue to evolve

In the preface to Becom...