Rhetoric

De Anda Jocelyn

Professor Mary Marca

October 10, 2011

Eminem Cleaning Out my Closet

            In the very strong lyrical song cleaning out my closet, Marshall Bruce Mather’s III or more commonly known as Eminem or Shady. He is known for his strong lyrics, speaking his mind out as well as the truth. He is one of the very few rappers or as I see poets in which speaks about the truth. The music industry has changed to talking about women, sex and drugs. He has stayed to his topic speaking about his life and life experiences. The reason I have chosen his song Cleaning Out my Closet out of the many songs he has is because this song has a deeper meaning than one hears. Cleaning Out my Closet is his metaphor for  he is letting everything of his life out to the public.

            The meaning of the Closet in this song means his life. Everything has been pushed in there and hidden year after year. The closet tends to build up every year. It holds memories of childhood the good and the bad as well as many more special events. The cleaning of the close is seen as well as two ways. The most common one would be the one of cleaning out the closet. To get rid of the unwanted trash as well as the space taking memories. Things that no longer mattered. The way Eminem is advocating cleaning is he is telling everyone about his life. Cleaning he is letting everything out of the closet. Like his song says, he is discriminated as well as protested against because of what he says. He speaks the truth and does not lie. He does not mean to make his mother nor wife look bad; he is just telling everyone who he is where he came from and what he went through.

            The message that Eminem is broadcasting is his rebirth. It is not mentioned nor shown, but by the actions and lyrics he is in need of a new beginning. Letting everything from the past go. He suffered plenty as a child and suffering continued into his adulthood as a husband. In this song with the “cleaning” of the “closet” he will become a new man, getting the rebirth that he wants. In his music video he is shown in the rain burying something or someone. From my understanding he is burying the old him. Along with the old him he is burying his past, his regrets, his pain and suffering.

            Marshall Bruce Mather’s III or Eminem wants to broadcast his message of his life. He is judged and hated because of the type of person society shapes him to be. With this song Cleaning Out my Closet, Eminem is letting everyone know of his past. He is letting go of the past and becoming a stronger man. This was his step to a rebirth or a new him and how society view him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQ9_TKayu9s