A rhetorical analysis of President Kennedy's Inaugural Address. A video of President Kennedy's Address and the full text of the address can be found at this link. John F. Kennedy found himself in a precarious position in January 1961. He was put to lead the divided America that had barely appointed him, the youngest man and the only Catholic to ever win the election. The Red Scare in America saw tensions at an all-time high, and the actions of communist nations worldwide sparked fear among many across the free world. President Kennedy utilized his inaugural address to unify the American people and the nation’s allies, as well as to convince the American people he was worthy of their trust and the presidency. A substantial amount of Kennedy’s first speech as president was dedicated to informing the world of his priorities throughout his first term. Near the beginning of the speech, antithesis and asyndeton are used simultaneously in “pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe…” to spark patriotism in the American people while adding additional ideas for the people to identify with. The discreet inclusion at the end also serves as a warning to other nations: the United States will not hesitate to forge peaceful relationships with other nations, but others’ apparent strength will not push the United States into submission. Juxtaposition is used throughout the speech, both to contrast differing terms and to compare similar ideas, to emphasize some of Kennedy’s problems with the world’s current state as well as highlight some of Kennedy’s expectations of citizens around the globe. Describing some nation’s capabilities of “absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of other nations” provides a clear image in the audience’s mind while asking for “high standards of strength and sacrifice” gives every person who comes into contact with this speech objectives they can follow. Antimetabole seems to be at the heart of each of this speech’s most memorable statements, such as when Kennedy tells Americans to “ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” Kennedy wants the American people to work towards their collective goal: a better America. The use of these specific rhetorical devices allows Kennedy to clarify his objectives and expectations as he expresses them, calling for global unity in discovering a peaceful path forward. President Kennedy’s diction is a vital component of his inauguration address and the main way he inspires his citizens and global leaders to trust him. Throughout the speech, Kennedy uses “we,” “us,” and “our” to make his objectives those of the American people, and to provide calls to action. Examples of such include when Kennedy states “we are the heirs of that first revolution” and “let us go forth to lead the land we love…knowing that here on earth God’s work must truly be our own.” Kennedy uses “we” to refer to every American, really the nation as a whole, when he directly addresses various groups in paragraphs seven through ten. Thus, his statements are much more powerful and impactful than they would have been had he said phrases such as ‘I pledge my best efforts’ instead of “we pledge our best efforts.” Kennedy refused to be seen as being neutral at best and divisive at worst, instead actively choosing to unite. The use of “fellow” has a similar unifying effect, aligning the audience with Kennedy in a greater crusade towards peace. Asking his “fellow citizens of the world… what together we can do for the freedom of man” is not only beautifully phrased, it perfectly summarises Kennedy’s purpose in this speech. The president’s extensive use of collective and inclusive pronouns powers his direct addresses to groups around the world, maintaining the United States’ powerful presence throughout his calls to peace while aligning himself with the American people and garnering their trust and support. Kennedy developed a strong rhythm in his speech using various rhetorical devices that focus on sentence structure. Repetition is a key part of Kennedy’s speech, as is evident when he repeats “both sides” a total of six times in consecutive sentences. Such heavy repetition drives the point that both sides in any debate must work together to achieve anything. Kennedy also utilizes parallelism a great deal during his speech, such as when he says “let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths….” This repeated grammatical structure refocuses the audience and sounds comforting. In the context of the speech, it is listing a variety of scientific advancements the world can focus on instead of the “terrors” of science. Anaphora and alliteration are used consecutively when Kennedy says “not as a call to battle, though embattled we are -- but a call to bear the burden...” the President repeating these words and sounds makes it easy to follow his ideas as he presents them. Kennedy uses rhetoric appeals to build a rhythm, vital for ensuring his audience remains engaged and listens to what he has to say. By holding his audience’s attention captive in this manner, his other appeals can achieve their purpose of inspiring unity among the American people and trust in him as their next president. John F. Kennedy needed to prove his worth to the world and align himself with the American people. Not only did his inaugural address exude a level of confidence, preparedness, and power many did not believe he was capable of, Kennedy set the tone for his presidency and those to follow. Not only does he address the American people and align himself with them, he directly speaks to the United States’ allies and adversaries as well as the United Nations before Kennedy addresses every citizen of the globe, and asks them to join his campaign for peace. April 2020, 11th Grade
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