Style of writing

The language in Salman Rushdie’s essay “The New Empire within Britain” is neutral. The text uses contractions, which makes the language more direct and informal. However, there are many times when Rushdie uses metaphors and literary language, which gives a formality to his text.

The contrast between the first-person pronouns and second-person pronouns is an important aspect when analyzing Rushdie’s essay: “British racism, of course, is not our problem. It’s yours” (ll.387-388). Rushdie uses the first-person singular throughout the essay, which makes his essay personal and highlights the fact that he, too, is affected by how immigrants are treated. Some examples include: “I am reliably informed of this” (l.1) “I make no apology” (l.232) The u...