Introduction
The first Black President of the United States, Barrack Obama, became part of the great American history as he delivered his first inaugural speech. In his address on Tuesday, January 20, 2009, at the West Front of the US Capitol, Obama underlined the significance of unity and national regeneration. His tone was cooler, more measured and reassuring than that of other presidents making it, perhaps, the right speech for the times. The US was facing economic challenges, and he implied that its resuscitation needed time, even as he unveiled an economic stimulus package to support the recovery process.
Obama further emphasized the importance of restoring the country’s fading fortunes in different spheres of the country, including national defense and science and technology. This paper is a stylistic investigation of the speech, which used well-crafted Aristotelian appeals to establish a strong connection with the audience. The speech employs specific linguistic techniques to expertly engage the audience’s emotions, credibility, and reasoning, as well as to make a compelling and persuasive case for collective action and national progress.
Rhetoric Analysis and Strategies
The basic Aristotelian instruments, including ethos, pathos, and logos, play a significant part in appeasing emotions, trust, authority, or reason, respectively. These devices are particularly vital in presidential leadership as they help to elicit a favorable reaction to the speakers’ thoughts and arguments. Obama’s rise to the top seat was propelled by the mantra, “Yes. We can”, which resonated with voters throughout the campaign period. The audience was inspired to join him in his delivery, echoing the renowned phrase in the chorus. The speech helped to reinforce a message of hope, commitment, and faith in the country’s ability to overcome barriers and achieve goals.
Ethos is the most influential method of persuading, and its presence in Obama’s inaugural address to the nation tells of his credibility. The toll was prevalent in Obama’s statements, as he demonstrated great honesty, particularly toward finding solutions to the country’s long-standing problems. As he looked forward to occupying the Oval Office, the new leader appealed to the emotions of the audience by referring to the previous US President, George W. Bush. Obama had kind words for the retired head of state, stating, “I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.”
However, it should not be forgotten that it was during his administration that the US went to war with different nations, with the most memorable ones being Iraq and Afghanistan. The war had not yielded mush to the American people despite losing thousands of troops alongside painful emotional and psychological suffering. Using ethos, Obama noticed and fashioned his relationship with those equal to him, crediting them while noting their weaknesses and faults.
Obama shifts his emotional appeal to historical events, focusing on the black race. He stated that “… and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred Oath” (American Rhetoric, par.31). The statement brings into picture his father, a black man and an immigrant who faced challenges in chasing the American dream. The remarks showed his acknowledgment of the challenges faced by the minority groups in the US. Obama augmented the use of ethos, demonstrating to his audience that he was a suitable individual for the job, using several phrases in the speech. These include “ideal leader,” “We, the people,” “we, our generation,” and “fellow Americans.” This identity concept encourages unity among Americans, regardless of their political opinions.
Pathos
Pathos serves to elicit emotions from the audience in order to relate to their sentiments and shape the present state of mind. Obama opens his speech the remark, “I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors” (American Rhetoric, par.1). This statement demonstrated the incoming President’s ability to communicate effectively. By emphasizing these emotive aspects, Obama was able to evoke feelings of unity, obligation, and a sense of shared purpose, with the intention of triggering a public commitment to constructive change.
Logos
Logos, which is also present in the speech, entails using logical connections to convince viewers reasonably. Obama suggested that “the success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on the ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart, not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.” (American Rhetoric, par.19). He exhibited his knowledge of the US history to buttress his message. He developed his ideas successfully and detailed the right strategies for performing the job required to revive America’s economy.
The President compares major events in American history, the challenges and difficulties it encountered, and its accomplishments. For example, he refers to Ann Nixon Cooper’s life 106 years ago by using comparisons and tales to describe the changes. Another parallel is “The time has come for us to put aside childish things” (American Rhetoric, par. 16). In using this analogy, Obama relates events and people he considers to be similar. He meant that the moment had come for the country to mature and confront its duties with seriousness and maturity in this statement, underlining the necessity for a more mature approach to government.
Obama encouraged his listeners to believe his comments as if they were pure truth that could never be questioned. The speech included a number of rhetorical questions that appealed to US citizens’ patriotism, rendering any other feelings insufficient. “What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them – that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply” (American Rhetoric, par. 8). The question prompted the audience to analyze the changing political landscape and the need for new approaches. Using the question, Obama compelled the citizens to reassess long-held beliefs and establish a distinct point of view.
Conclusion
President Obama’s inauguration speech demonstrated a well-crafted use of Aristotelian components to effectively interact with the audience and express his goal for a unified America. He successfully engaged his audience’s emotions, beliefs, and reasoning, eventually constructing an engaging and convincing argument for national unity and prosperity. He used a variety of rhetorical devices to create an emotionally charged, intellectually stimulating, and ethically authoritative dialogue. Obama’s adept use of these tactics significantly contributed to his overall effectiveness in connecting to the public at his inauguration, instilling optimism, unity, and a sense of purpose in his audience.
Work Cited
“American Rhetoric: Barack Obama – First Presidential Inaugural Address.” Web.