Critical Study of Texts

Speeches with their rhetoric as the power to communicate elaborately pursue a purpose that lies within its composers psyche. Aung San Suu Kyi’s Keynote Address at the Beijing World Conference on Women in 1995 established a redefined meaning towards women’s role in society through her political influence and personal values of attaining peace and justice. Similarly, Anwar Sadat’s Statement to the Knesset in 1977 mirrors the same predicament with a passionate devotion towards the cause of the uniting of their divided nations and differences. These speeches have an impact on my perspective of the universal themes that are still prevalent in modern social and political context.

The opening to Anwar Sadat’s speech has a series of religious allusions accentuating the fact that his journey was determined by a superior power, “in the name of God, the gracious and the merciful,” recognising his conviction behind the cause. Sadat further strengthens his relationship with the audience by illustrating that, “I will go the end of the world,” highlighting the temerity and bravery of his actions underscoring the urgent necessity for these actions. Personally, the visionary element of his address is broadening, “towards new horizons,” where he envisions peace and harmony in the world. Anwar Sadat attacks people with “open and closed doors,” utilising this paradox to instil the need for acceptance rather than rejection of the Jews, being based on a permanent solution of justice rather than the coercive pressure placed upon him by his fellow compatriots. Reinforcing their unity through parallel structure because they share, “one language, one policy with one face,” developed on the relations between the openness and honesty they share “being fran...

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... of prejudice and intolerance fall from our own limbs.”

In my opinion, both Anwar Sadat’s Statement to the Knesset in 1977 and Aung San Suu Kyi’s Keynote Address at the Beijing World Conference on Women in 1995 resonate with similar circumstances under which they addressed their audience. They both highlight political and social issues that are ongoing and prevalent in modern society ridding of our peace with the confines of justice. Both speeches are still relevant because of their peaceful nature addressing universal issue that permeate throughout their speeches. In Suu Kyi’s context, her recent release highlights her triumph on these universal issues of the gender inequality. Whereas for Anwar Sadat his visionary argument is still defining the ongoing conflicts in the Arab and Israel lands. Personally, they’ve had a lasting impact on social and political issues.