Introduction

In ensuring the message reaches a broader audience, most writers employ various techniques and styles of writing. The message to be communicated must be collaborated with test, in this case, rhetorical devices that impact on sentence structures, the pattern of meaning as well as sound. All these tools purpose of invoking certain reactions from the audience. In other words, writers inform, argue and persuade readers through rhetoric devices to ensure an emotional response is felt as a result of the rhetoric power. For instance, when an audience is engaged in a conversation through speech or any other writing, and it happens to change its stance or mind regarding a particular issue, then the writer or speaker is said to have achieved the primary purpose of the message. Considering the Presidential InauguralAddress by John F. Kennedy, the speech is structured in a way that embraces rhetorical devices such as logos, pathos, and ethos to convince the audience that the speaker is well aware of what he is saying. The speech id developed on credibility with every argument backed by evidence to show how the message needs to be seriously put into consideration for the audience to decide on doing what is right. Therefore, the article analyzes rhetorical tools such as humor, antimetabole, symbolism, and metaphor through ethos, pathos and logos appeals. Rhetorical devices employed in the speech is evident to have served as a mean to connect the people expediently to the theme of the message, in this case, the success of liberty which as a result, makes the speech effective in bringing change.

Summary of the speech

John K Kennedy focuses on the need for unity and liberty to achieve success not only for the State but every individual all around the world. The theme of victory unveils in the speech as Kennedy pledges with the people to devote their energy, and faith into serving the country that can further light the world. The history of the world and how people have fought to get freedom acts as a challenge for the people to use the freedom they now have into doing new things that can positively impact the nation as well as creating a new balance of power. He promises the people that the victory attained is not for the party but for every citizen regardless of being a friend or a foe. As a result, Kennedy promises that the party will work together with the people to create a new nation which is governed by justice, security and peace.

Analysis of the speech

In this analysis, logos, pathos, and ethos rhetorical devices will be evaluated as presented in the speech.

Firstly, the speech embraces the logos device where the audience is persuaded through logic and reason that are backed by statements and facts. Kennedy begins by telling the people that victory belongs to all of them, a fact signifying another beginning for the nation. In support of this fact, Kennedy swears before God and the people, a statement that acts as an assurance to show the people the weight of his message (paragraph 1). He further employs the use of symbolism device to create an image of what his message meant, “We observe today not a victory of party, but a celebration of freedom”( paragraph 1). This statement symbolized the end of something that had for so long impacted on the freedom of the people.  However, the gap in this statement is that the speaker talks of unity to abolish human poverty and other forms of life yet givesno strategy of carrying all these out. As much as citizens can support the ruling party, it is not enough to bring tangible changes. As much as Kennedy has pledged for liberty to achieve success, he fails to address or rather give a specific time the changes will be accomplished to create the new nation. He says, “ All this will not be finished in the first one hundred days” (paragraph 21).  Besides this, the theme of freedom as evident in the speech is supported by a statement from the Bible where Isiaih says “ undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free” (paragraph 19.)

Looking at the speech from the pathos lens, sympathy and pity are awakened in the audience.  For instance, Chiasmus is employed in creating a strong emotion towards the need for people to fight for sincerity and civility, “ Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate” (paragraph 15). The chiasmus device creates balance on negotiating being carried out due to fear but at the same time, embracing negotiation without fear.  The emotion the speech creates, in this case, is a courageous feeling, thus awakening a positive and strong spirit in the audience. The speech also employs the use of antimetabole device, “ ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country” (paragraph  26). This aimed at emphasizing on the much the State expected from citizens in ensuring success is achieved. However, despite this statement and the pledge for togetherness, the speech further talks of the reward the citizens will get, but the statement is left uncompleted (paragraph 28). People love to be rewarded, and so it could have been more significant and convincing to the audience if Kennedy could have mentioned the kind of reward people could be given. A good conscience is not a tangible reward to convince the people to inject their efforts in developing the nation. This fact here raises concern in that people cannot be swayed by mere words and promises which lacks a time frame to be accomplished. In other words, the speech forgets to address tangible issues in peoples’ lives, but rather focuses on making America shine even if it meant the use of force.

Ethos is evident in the speech in that Kennedy sounds fair and credibly ethically convinces the people. For instance, Kennedy says that he does not shrink from the responsibility of defending freedom, but he willingly welcomes it (paragraph 25). He talks of how ready he is to defend theland bearing in mind that serving the nation is the only way to make it outstanding among others all around the nation. It is humorous how Kennedy speaks of those who sought power by choosing to ride the back of the tiger, just to end up inside. The humor is used in the speech to show the colonial control which was propagated by tyranny rulers. As much as he appears to be explaining a significant point, he employs the humorous strategy to lighten the weight of the issue while the same time giving emphasize on the importance of freedom.

Conclusion

Kennedy employs vital strategies of writing such as the use of ethos, pathos, and logos among other techniques to make the message effective and impacting on the audience. An example of further techniques is humor, antimetabole, and chiasmus among others. While freedom, liberty, and togetherness appears to be the major themes of the speech, Kennedy addresses the people through various styles supported by evidence to ensure loyalty is achieved. However, the speech at some point forgets to address significant concerns such as tangible actions in which the party will change the lives of people, how different these actions will be from the previous rulers and rewards people will get in case they offered their support.

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