The chosen text that I will be analyzing is conveyed and published in the form of a political speech by John F. Kennedy. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address was held on Friday, January 20, 1961. An Inaugural Address is a form of speech that is delivered by a leader who aims to share his or her intentions as a dominant figure with the audience. This speech takes place during an inauguration, which is a formal ceremony held to mark the very first steps of a public leader. Knowing that the text was an Inaugural Address and delivered by one of the most memorable American leaders, allows us to determine, recognize and identify the text as a speech. Speeches given by leading American presidents generally console the commonalities of their citizens by referring to the American history, significance of the occasion and most importantly to hope for a thriving future.
Kennedy’s speech aimed to reassure Americans of what their nation is capable of, “United there is little we cannot do”. The “we” in the previous quote resembles unity and sympathy shared by the leader with his supporters. Simultaneously projecting a sense of security in the eyes and hearts of his fellow supporters, who showed their support by embracing the young leader’s vision. Kennedy then moves on to educate and inspire the American society to serve their homeland and the world, “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man”. By referring to the world in contrast to America, further enhances the ideologies portrayed to the audience, as it views the United States of America as a vicious side that the world is in need of.
John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address is considered to be the finest and most eloquent speech to be given by a president in the American history. Kennedy’s speech marked the 44th presidential inauguration, while at the same time the cold war was taking place, as he starts off by saying "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 insure the survival and the success of liberty”. These previous lines indicate the situation that Kennedy and his nation were in. The hardships that the Americans lived with were all shifted away as Kennedy gave his speech, giving Americans hope and a mission to further build their uprising nation.
The tone was that the speech was set on and the way the speech was conveyed tells us a lot about Kennedy’s character. The tone allows the speech teller to feel more empowered and project this power to the audience. Kennedy used formal and sophisticated vocabulary, showing his eloquence and intelligence. For example, “Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans”, the previous lines further portray Kennedy as an intellect leader, his usage of antiquated words resemble his care for the nation’s history while thriving for a superior future.
Literary devices give authors the opportunity to express what they want, as a result Kennedy took an advantage of that as he used detailed and impacting key literary devices allowing him to portray his ideas more efficiently. Ethos, Pathos and Logos were present in this text. Ethos for example, “For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three quarters ago”. The previous quote is an example of Ethos, as Kennedy’s political background provided him with tools to take on the audience from all around the world in his speech, including the Soviet Union. Pathos was also relevant in the context where Kennedy said, “let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God’s work must truly be our own”. That shows Pathos since Kennedy assures that there is a common god and a mutual belief in him, the usage of both “we” and “us” signify equality although Kennedy is considered to be the president of the most powerful nation in the world. Last but not least, Logos was evident as Kennedy said, “United, there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures”. In the previous quote Kennedy states the fact that working together allows their nation to succeed as a whole better.
Rhetoric devices were also frequently plotted in the text, such as Antithesis, Repetition and Metaphor.
Antithesis is when there is contrast of ideas in parallel structures or words, it was evident when JFK said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”. Repetition however, is a word or phrase used two or more times in close proximity, such as, “For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life”. Metaphors are the most commonly used form of rhetoric devices, where there is an implied comparison through a figurative use of words, for example as Kennedy referred to poverty as chains that need to be broken by working together, “the chains of poverty”.
Over all JFK's speech was constructed and delivered in a superior manner. Rhetorical devices being implemented in his speech further built up his leading character in the eyes of his supporting audience. His Inaugural Address was one of the most successful speeches in US history, and all the factors contributing in the previous statement were thoroughly discussed in the previous analysis.
Kennedy’s speech aimed to reassure Americans of what their nation is capable of, “United there is little we cannot do”. The “we” in the previous quote resembles unity and sympathy shared by the leader with his supporters. Simultaneously projecting a sense of security in the eyes and hearts of his fellow supporters, who showed their support by embracing the young leader’s vision. Kennedy then moves on to educate and inspire the American society to serve their homeland and the world, “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man”. By referring to the world in contrast to America, further enhances the ideologies portrayed to the audience, as it views the United States of America as a vicious side that the world is in need of.
John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address is considered to be the finest and most eloquent speech to be given by a president in the American history. Kennedy’s speech marked the 44th presidential inauguration, while at the same time the cold war was taking place, as he starts off by saying "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 insure the survival and the success of liberty”. These previous lines indicate the situation that Kennedy and his nation were in. The hardships that the Americans lived with were all shifted away as Kennedy gave his speech, giving Americans hope and a mission to further build their uprising nation.
The tone was that the speech was set on and the way the speech was conveyed tells us a lot about Kennedy’s character. The tone allows the speech teller to feel more empowered and project this power to the audience. Kennedy used formal and sophisticated vocabulary, showing his eloquence and intelligence. For example, “Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans”, the previous lines further portray Kennedy as an intellect leader, his usage of antiquated words resemble his care for the nation’s history while thriving for a superior future.
Literary devices give authors the opportunity to express what they want, as a result Kennedy took an advantage of that as he used detailed and impacting key literary devices allowing him to portray his ideas more efficiently. Ethos, Pathos and Logos were present in this text. Ethos for example, “For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three quarters ago”. The previous quote is an example of Ethos, as Kennedy’s political background provided him with tools to take on the audience from all around the world in his speech, including the Soviet Union. Pathos was also relevant in the context where Kennedy said, “let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God’s work must truly be our own”. That shows Pathos since Kennedy assures that there is a common god and a mutual belief in him, the usage of both “we” and “us” signify equality although Kennedy is considered to be the president of the most powerful nation in the world. Last but not least, Logos was evident as Kennedy said, “United, there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures”. In the previous quote Kennedy states the fact that working together allows their nation to succeed as a whole better.
Rhetoric devices were also frequently plotted in the text, such as Antithesis, Repetition and Metaphor.
Antithesis is when there is contrast of ideas in parallel structures or words, it was evident when JFK said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”. Repetition however, is a word or phrase used two or more times in close proximity, such as, “For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life”. Metaphors are the most commonly used form of rhetoric devices, where there is an implied comparison through a figurative use of words, for example as Kennedy referred to poverty as chains that need to be broken by working together, “the chains of poverty”.
Over all JFK's speech was constructed and delivered in a superior manner. Rhetorical devices being implemented in his speech further built up his leading character in the eyes of his supporting audience. His Inaugural Address was one of the most successful speeches in US history, and all the factors contributing in the previous statement were thoroughly discussed in the previous analysis.
