Introduction
The election of President Barrack Obama marked a vital part of American History. Obama, the first black President of the United States, matched up to the expectations of the Americans and Democrats through his foremost inaugural speech delivered on Tuesday, January 20, 2009. Obama underlined the significance of unity and national regeneration while implying that this revival will take time, even as he unveiled an economic stimulus package to aid in revitalizing the US economy. He also emphasized the importance of restoring the country’s fading fortunes in military and research, among other areas. The opening remarks were heavily influenced by political discourse and interaction.
This paper evaluates the oratory devices and strategies contained in Obama’s first speech as president. His words embodied a well-crafted usage of rhetorical devices to effectively connect with the audience and convey Obama’s vision for a united America. He employed specific linguistic strategies to skillfully engage his audience’s emotions, credibility, and logic, ultimately establishing a compelling and persuasive argument for collective action and national progress.
Rhetoric Analysis and Strategies
Pathos
Rhetoric analysis is the examination of a discourse using standard Aristotelian ideas. Speaking is one of the most significant aspects of presidential leadership, and it consists of three primary elements: ethos, pathos, and logos. By appeasing the emotions with pathos, trust, and authority with ethos, or reason with logos, the tools help to elicit a positive response to the speakers’ opinions and arguments. Pathos appeals to the audience’s feelings and shapes their present condition of mind by eliciting emotions.
From the onset, Obama stated, “My fellow citizens: 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” (Phillips par. 8). The use of pathos signified Obama’s prowess of effective communication as this helped to stimulate feelings of unity, duty, and a sense of shared purpose. He hoped to generate a community commitment to constructive change by highlighting these emotional qualities.
Ethos
Ethos is the most influential method of persuading since it tells the speaker’s credibility. Ethos was prevalent in Obama’s statements, as he demonstrated great honesty. He also should have covered up the country’s unending issues. He noticed and fashioned his relationship with those equal to him, crediting them while noting their weaknesses. For example, he thanked former US President George W. Bush for his service to the country and his assistance during the transition period (Phillipspar. 2). At the same time, he highlighted the nation’s faults under his administration. He frequently referenced slavery and segregation, even mentioning his father, a black man and an immigrant from Kenya. He recalled a time in American history when people like him were not served in public eateries.
Obama demonstrated his moral principles through the use of ethos, demonstrating to his audience that he was a suitable individual for the job. He uses the identification method to develop his ethos, which is all about convincing people to bond with you as the “ideal leader” (Phillips par. 11). Mr. Obama did this several times throughout his address by beginning remarks with “We, the people” and using phrases like “we, our generation,” and fellow Americans.” This identification concept fosters togetherness among Americans, regardless of their beliefs in governance.
Logos
Logos seeks to persuade viewers rationally using logical steps. Obama exhibited his knowledge of his country’s history by employing facts and figures to make his message. He also effectively developed his ideas and outlined the proper techniques for completing the job required to restore America’s economy. For instance, he states, “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.” (Phillips par. 20). This exemplifies how Obama applied historical examples to honor the past and demonstrate America’s position at the time.
Repetition
Repetition is the recurrent use of terminology in a conversation that helps bring a dispersed audience’s attention. For example, Obama repeatedly pronounced the term “whether,” giving the appearance that he was addressing every person individually, causing the audience to react unconsciously to his plea (Phillips par. 14). However, the most renowned element of this campaign was the recurring “Yes. We can” phrase, which also served as his campaign slogan then, was a key theme in his presidential crusades. It inspired the audience to join him in his auditory, echoing the famous phrases in the chorus and echoing him. The impact of thousands of people shouting Obama’s comments was astounding, reinforcing a message of hope, resolve, and faith in the country’s ability to overcome obstacles and achieve our goals.
Analogy
An analogy is a contrast in which the speaker connects events and persons he believes are similar. It is evidenced by the way the new president outlined significant points in American history, the hurdles and teething troubles it faced, and its accomplishments. For example, he references 106 years ago during Ann Nixon Cooper’s life by utilizing parallels and anecdotes to describe the changes. Another similarity is “The time has come for us to put aside childish things” (Phillips par. 16). This implies that the moment has come for the nation to mature and confront its duties with seriousness and maturity, highlighting the demand for a more mature approach to governance.
Rhetorical Questions
This is the final oratory method addressed in the paper, and it refers to inquiries that do not need a response. It is a powerful tool that can tremendously affect the audience. Obamastimulated the listeners to believe in his statements as if he were talking about absolute truth that can never be questioned, and these questions emphasized it. The speech, in particular, had multiple rhetorical questions that appealed to the patriotism of US citizens, rendering any other feelings insufficient. One of the questions is, “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”(Phillips par. 8). The question inspired the audience to evaluate the shifting political situation and the need for new tactics, forcing them to reconsider long-held ideas and adopt a unique viewpoint.
Conclusion
President Obama’s inaugural speech exemplified a well-crafted use of rhetorical elements to communicate efficiently with the audience and articulate his vision for a unified America. He masterfully engaged his audience’s emotions, believability, and logic, finally building an intriguing and compelling case for unity and national prosperity. He employed a combination of rhetorical instruments to create an emotionally vivid, intellectually fascinating, and ethically authoritative dialogue. Obama’s skillful use of these approaches contributes considerably to his overall efficacy in communicating to the masses at his inauguration, creating optimism, unity, and a sense of purpose in his audience.
Work Cited
Phillips, Macon. “President Barack Obama’s Inaugural Address.” Whitehouse. 2009. Web.