Pathos In Barack Obama's Speech

526 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Essay on figurative language

On May 13, 2009 former president Barack Obama gave a commencement speech at Arizona State University. This speech is one of the most compelling and influential speeches that Obama has delivered. Pathos is a key ingredient in the president's speech. His appeals to emotion are very functional. From the very beginning, the literary rhetoric of president Obama is subtle, yet powerful. His use of the element pathos is especially noteworthy, for he has a gift when it comes to manipulating any audience's emotions. Obama’s use of pathos in this particular speech can only be described as inspiring. He arranges his words so that they resonate with the audience, encouraging an emotion. In a moment where the former president is talking about aspiring to …show more content…

“‘Colonel Sanders didn't open up his first Kentucky Fried Chicken until he was in his 60s. Winston Churchill… took over as Prime Minister and saw Great Britain through its finest hour… they had passion, a commitment to following that passion wherever it would lead, and to working hard every step along the way.’” By using these historical figures as examples of success, Obama is motivating the audience to keep trying even if they fail because that is what the historical figures did and it led them to triumph. Through examples, whether historical or nonhistorical, president Obama plants an appeal to emotions. He inspires and motivates his audience with pathos, urging them to achieve more. On the visual side of Obama’s speech, his strategy to appeal to emotion is again, very subtle. His body language says the same amount as his words. For instance, if one were to view his speech, one would notice how Obama tends to point at the audience a fair amount of times. He does this to make the audience feel some sort of responsibility, for that is what many feel when being pointed at especially by an authoritative

Show More
Related

  • An Analysis Of The Eulogy Of Barack Obama's Speech

    834 Words  | 2 Pages

    In President Barack Obama’s eulogy for Reverend Clementa Pinckney and others who died in the Charleston Church Shooting, delivered on June 26, 2015 at the College of Charleston in South Carolina, he commemorates Reverend Pinckney and at the same time advocates for his own political agenda. President Obama shifts between black and presidential registers, weaves the ideas of grace, sight, and blindness throughout the speech, and cultivates his ethos to better connect with his audience, the American people, not only African Americans or Christians. President Obama addresses the American public during this racially charged time in order to remember the lives lost during the shooting, to promote his political views, and to unify the all Americans.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Osama Bin Laden

    581 Words  | 2 Pages

    Barack Obama demonstrates the use of pathos in the speech numerous times and one stuck out in particular: “It was

    Read More

  • Comparing Obama And Roosevelt's Inaugural Address

    779 Words  | 2 Pages

    The purpose of an “inaugural address” is to inform the people of his or her intentions as a leader. Two of the most prominent inaugural addresses throughout history are Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s and Barack Obama’s. Franklin Roosevelt’s inaugural address stands the test of time because it gave the American people hope that they may overcome the terrible Great Depression. Similarly, Barack Obama’s address is well known because it inspired millions that we will be lifted out of economic crisis, but it was also remembered as the first inaugural address from an African American president. The inauguration speeches of Franklin Roosevelt and Barack Obama use the rhetorical devices parallelism, allusions, and emotive language to convey their messages

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of John F Kennedy's Inaugural Address

    993 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage.” (Miss, Daly, Pg.). This show the U.S. people that he really loves this country and really cares about what’s going on and what happens to it in the future. Another way he brings pathos into his speech is by the language/words he uses in his speech. When he is talking he uses a lot of words like “we”, “us”. This makes the U.S. people feel very connected to him and makes the feel like they are a part of it to, it is like they made the decision to vote him president and now they get to help him make his decisions about the future of America. In his address he says “In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course.” (Miss, Daly, Pg.). which again he connects to the people by making them feel involved and by basically saying the future of America is even more in our hands then in his and it really depends on us in how we want America to turn out, and again makes the U.S people feel very patriotic and proud of their country. Overall John F Kennedy was very successful in persuading the U.S. people about their choice by using pathos and by just talking to

    Read More

  • Bush and Blair 9-11 Speeches: Analysis of Rhetorical Devices

    955 Words  | 2 Pages

    He implements this emotional appeal into his speech to involve all Americans—people living in the United States of America, regardless of their ethnicity, race, or culture, and to acknowledge that the American people have endured this together, and that they will continue to advance after this event with stronger resolve, stronger than ever. In addition, he implements personification to motivate and empower the American people. “Our nation, this generation, will lift a dark threat of violence from our people and our future” (Bush, 2001). “This generation”, again a synonym for the American people, with its unwavering resolve, will fight for its freedom persistently. He intimates that the future of America and of democratic freedom is in the hands of the American people; that the American people have the power to control their fate.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Remarks To The Naacp National Convention

    994 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout her speech, Mrs. Obama used a rhetoric device to engage the audience. She used pathos, which is when someone appeals to another person’s emotions. Mrs. Obama uses this often to get her point across. One way that Mrs. Obama uses pathos is when she states, “Fears about safety mean that those afternoons outside have been replaced by afternoons inside with TV, video games, the Internet” (Obama 423). Most of the people in the audience are parents, which means that most of them grew up in a community where you spent more time outside than inside.

    Read More

  • Obama's Speech: The Rhetorical Analysis Of President Barack Obama

    1749 Words  | 4 Pages

    Many people believed Senator Obama won the presidential nomination because he gives a speech that changed the political, religion issues about the race. President Barack Obama is the 44th president and the first African American to serve as U.S president. He was elected second terms over former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney. On March 18, 2008, president Obama gave a famous speech about the political, religion issues of race in the United States speaking at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. This speech brings more hopes to the black people, and opposed to former pastor, Reverend Jeremiah Wright’s view. The speech encourages the black people to fight for their freedom, to overcome the difficulties to create more strong union

    Read More

  • President Obama’s Inaugural Speech: Rhetorical Analysis

    903 Words  | 2 Pages

    He makes sure his audience connects with him directly by making them feel at his level, and at hiss. This way he connects to the audience, and in exchange, helps his statement of unity. Using various examples of parallelism, anaphora and refrain, Obama brands the theme of equality and togetherness in our country throughout the speech, vital to gaining the respect of his audience. Obama recalls the ‘enduring strength of the constitution’ by delving into the past alluding to America’s allegiance to the Declaration of Independence by quoting “we hold these truths. that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of A More Perfect Union By Peter Clark

    1267 Words  | 3 Pages

    Roy Peter Clark, author of “A More Perfect Union”: Why It Worked, takes a stance on President Barack Obama’s speech while analyzing it. President Barack Obama delivered a speech titled “A More Perfect Union.” His speech focused on the prominent issue of racism in America. In this article, Clark talks about President Obama’s known power and brilliance. Clark makes references and comparisons to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and W.EB. DuBois. “A More Perfect Union” features writing techniques that makes the message more defined and effective. President Obama utilizes four closely related rhetorical strategies. Clark broadly explains the purpose of the rhetorical strategies. Allusion, parallelism, two-ness, and autobiography helped to shape President Obama’s speech that that was meant to create

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis of Obama’s First Two Speeches as President

    1339 Words  | 3 Pages

    President Barack H. Obama has always used rhetorical strategies in his political speeches. He used these strategies to present important points and views of his in front of the public. Delivering points and views properly and logically got him to be the president in the first place. President Obama used mostly ethos and pathos, yet some logos, to deliver his inaugural and the state of union speeches. Being that, he was able to reach the audience emotionally and make the speech flow efficiently while preserving his credibility.

    Read More

  • Obama Speech Rhetorical Analysis

    961 Words  | 2 Pages

    In his speech, Obama uses terms like “Us”, “We”, and “Our” which let him connect with his audience by allowing him to identify with them. In a way it lets him connect with his audience’s mourning . Obama also allows his audience to use their imagination to remember Reverend Clementa Pinckney during his speech. He uses imagery like “ He would not grow discouraged. After a full day at the capitol, He’d climb into his car and head to the church to draw sustenance from his family, from his ministry,from the community that loved and needed him.” With this Obama paints a picture of Reverend Clementa and uses emotion to captivate the audience’s attention. In efforts to personalize his speech,Obama uses bit of humor. When referring to the time he met Reverend Clementa Pinckney he states, “Back when I didn’t have visible grey hair.” With this bit of added humor, Obama attempts to ease his audience into the eulogy. He lets his audience have a laugh and connect with him. Obama also uses a lot of passion in his eulogy. Halfway through his speech, Obama makes a bold statement which makes his audience roar with applause. With a strong and passionate tone he states “Oh, but God works in mysterious ways. God has different ideas.” Obama’s tone and statement makes his audience feel his compassion which creates a memorable and unforgettable speech for his audience. Obama use for pathos in his eulogy is very effective since he is able to target the of his audience and use emotion to connect with

    Read More

  • Pathos, Logos, Ethos And Logos In Barack Obama's Speech

    544 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the beginning of the speech Barack Obama reflects back to where his parents and grandparents came from and what they did as their occupation. Obama shows pathos, logos and ethos many times throughout his 2004 keynote speech. He also spoke on why his mother and father gave him the name that they gave him. By doing so, Barack Obama showed pathos throughout the speech and got his audience to know him a bit before pursuing the Democratic Party to vote for John Kerry. He appeals to his audience by mentioning that his parents are both passed away, and from the look of things that did not stop him from standing where he was that day with pride and sadness:

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of The Eulogy Of President Obama

    1087 Words  | 3 Pages

    Specifically, when Obama says in lines “Removing the flag from this state 's capital would not be an act of political correctness. It would do no harm, it would simply be an acknowledgement that the cause for which they fought the cause of slavery was wrong.” This serves as to say actions always have a deeper meaning and that you can 't always please everyone but you must take an effort to correct and make up for past mistakes. Obama does this to remind the South Carolina people of this harsh time and they were able to perceive and create a stronger country. Another way he uses pathos is when he remarks how “The whole week [President Obama] reflected on the idea of grace, the grace reverend Pinckney would preach about in his sermons. The grace described in one of {President Obamas] favorite hymnals- the one we all know” he continues to go on and sing amazing grace. This shows the reader how Reverend Pinckney’s sermons were with such connections to the hierarchy that they were almost a god given gift that was sent from the heavens to bring everyone together just like the song “Amazing Grace” which is known throughout the world. Obama also uses all theses quotes to show how he has taken the time to relate to the ideologies and beliefs of the Reverend as well as to show to these people attending this funeral and to the people watching it across the country that he is

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis of Speech a Speech by George W. Bush

    1144 Words  | 3 Pages

    In this paper I am going to discuss the rhetorical appeals, as well as the argumentative structure, audience and purpose set forth by George W. Bush in his September 27 speech in Flagstaff, Arizona. More specifically I will refer to the rhetorical appeals of ethos, pathos and logos, and explain how they are used to gain the support and attention of the audience and further the further the purpose of the speech. As I explain these appeals I will also give an insight into the argumentative structure and why it is apparent in this particular speech.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of The Audacity Of Hope

    889 Words  | 2 Pages

    On July 27, 2004, Barack Obama made arguably his most important speech, “The Audacity of Hope”, at the Democratic National Convention Keynote Address. These conventions are for political parties to announce a winner for nomination. All the way through his piece, Obama focuses on connecting Americans and himself to the audience. In fact, at the time, Barack Obama was a US Senate candidate for the United States president, and in making this speech, was offered a window for raising his popularity. Throughout “The Audacity of Hope” speech, Barack Obama implements three main devices to raise his political popularity: repetition, abstract language, and structure.

    Read More

More about Pathos In Barack Obama's Speech

Open Document