Rhetorical Analysis of Jfk Inaugural Speech Essay

In early 1961, the United States of America was enduring racial tensions and inequalities on the home-front, as well as waging war against Communism and the Cold War internationally. Chaos and fear had penetrated the minds of the American people because the Cold War was near its pinnacle; the American people longed for a strong, reassuring leader. John F. Kennedy provided that reassurance in his Inaugural Address. Taking the current national and international turmoil into account, Kennedy sought to persuade the Nation’s people to Join in his efforts and unify together in order to achieve peace. The inaugural address is saturated with rhetorical strategies seeking to flatter the American People and utilizes words of encouragement to evoke unification. Kennedy was able to effectively establish a profound kairotic moment at which his discourse can make the most difference or have the most influence. The speech persuades the American people by providing motivating propositions through appeals to ethos, logos and pathos. Kennedys inaugural address plays to an irrefutably persuading rhythm. Strong, motivational verbs are Joined with sophisticated adjectives in a manner that would make the most nane speech capable of swaying an entire population. In order to capture the minds of the American people, Kennedy begins with an antithesis, calling his victory, â€Å"†¦ a celebration of freedom-symbolizing an end, as well as a beginning†. This statement is to ensure the people that they are embarking in a new era of reform and peace, the end of turmoil, and the beginning of prosperous tranquility. Similar to the Declaration of Independence, Kennedys speech emphasizes the unification of the country through the use of parallelism and Juxtaposition. Kennedy appeals to his udience’s ethos through visions of freedom and American values. He does this through the Juxtaposition of freedom from the tyranny of man and the reliance of God to provide such freedom. By utilizing a quote from Isaiah, â€Å".. to undo heavy burdens and let the oppressed go free†, Kennedy persuades all who listen to pursue freedom because it is both their God given right and their patriotic duty. Kennedy emphasizes his argument for patriotic unification by effectively using anaphora to break his pledges and propositions into segments. The repetition of declarative lements exemplifies his pledge that he will continue to pursue peace and encourage action. He declares, â€Å"to those new states whom we welcome to the ranks of the free,† and, â€Å"to those peoples in huts and villages across the globe† in order to evokes nationalistic feelings through the appeal to pathos. This pledge of calm persuasiveness exemplifies his stasis of remaining strong and unified amongst the division of tyranny. Kennedys choice of such language caused his audience to find it hard to disagree with such an amiable stance. He stated, â€Å"United, there is little e cannot do in a host of co-operative ventures. Divided, there is little we can do, for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder†. This statement exemplifies the importance of international and national unification. Due to the Cold War, Kennedy is extremely intent on bringing liberty to the world much more than protecting the liberties already present. However, it is evident that there was an underlying fear in his pledge; almost a plea to advisories for union and non violent where disagreeing with him would seem unpatriotic and weak, â€Å"In your hands, my ellow citizens, more than mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course. Since this country was founded, each generation of Americans has been summoned to give testimony to its national loyalty. The graves of young Americans who answered the call to service surround the globe†. Kennedy chose words such as, â€Å"national loyalty’, in order to evoke an appeal to ethos and logos and â€Å"graves of young Americans† to appeal to their pathos. He points to the resiliency of the United States and the need for the people to continue to support the ideals of freedom that ave seemed forgotten. The people were challenged to â€Å"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and the success of liberty. † Kennedy successfully appeals to the pathos and ethos of the audience in order to establish his views of the inane strength and duty within all Americans. In the conclusion of his speech, Kennedy cleverly positions one of the most memorable quotes of history. While the audience is full of excitement and atriotic duty because of his previous statement calling for strength and faith, he pauses for a moment and states â€Å"And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what you r country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country. † This statement attenuates itself to the rhetorical instrument of kairos because the placement and the time in which Kennedy chose to speak the words provided its long lasting impact. The influence of this statement has persuading many Americans to act upon their own stasis and exemplify true freedom and strength for their country.