Abraham LincolnEssay Preview: Abraham LincolnReport this essayWhen thinking about oneÐЃfs own rhetoric, it is interesting to note the many ways in which one interacts with the audience, make connections, and form that relationship that is crucial to oneÐЃfs success. For example, when I make a presentation, standing up in front of all the classmates in Rhetoric class, I am also trying to make that very same connection. Ethos plays a large role when speaking before an audience. Right at the very moment of speaking to the audience, I am forming ethos with the classmates and professor because I am speaking about a particular area we share interest.
To be an effective speaker, Michael J. Hyde (2004) stated that speakers must ÐЃgunderstand human character and goodness in their various forms.ÐЃh (Hyde 38) By using ethos as a connecting line, a bridge forms between the speaker and the audience. This bridge is one of understanding and relation. Hyde further explains that ÐЃgdetermining the audienceÐЃfs beliefs is the key to successful adaptation in terms of building credibility. In this way, ethos dwells not only in the speaker, as Plato and Isocrates would have us believe, but also in the audience.ÐЃh (Hyde 6) Sharing this responsibility connects the audience and speaker.
Abraham Lincoln is one of my favorite historical figures of all time, and I read a number of publications on him whilst studying at universities in Japan and England. Especially of my interest are the speeches he made throughout his political life, with each single word uttered through his mouth overwhelmingly powerful but extremely persuasive, convincing and above all intriguing. Through doing my research for this final paper, Abraham Lincoln has proven to be one of the most well-known and influential rhetoricians of all time. LincolnÐЃfs ethos was truly reflected through the many speeches he made throughout his career. It became clear that he adjusted the development of this ethos depending on the audience in which he was speaking. He found it useful and powerful to relate to his audience on levels they were familiar. This ability of LincolnÐЃfs made it possible for him to form connections that other rhetoricians of his time were unable to do, therefore making him more successful. Lincoln made it an obligation to relate to his audience in different ways so that they may better appreciate his character and the contributions he desired to make on their behalf.
In this final paper, I would like to prove LincolnÐЃfs ability to use ethos in order to appeal to his audience. This rhetorical critique will focus primarily upon his ability to construct himself as a peer to his audience through his use of pronouns, appealing to their religious sensibilities, and providing humor they can all share. Rhetorical analysis and criticism will be given to LincolnÐЃfs Lyceum Speech, Lincoln-Douglas Debates, The Cooper Union Address, The Gettysburg Address, and The Second Inaugural. Not only will these texts assist in the proof of this thesis, but reference to other material that has been constructed based upon this same argument will be analyzed and used in order to further prove this thesis.
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The above cited article, and the following article in the Washington Post, provide a useful reference for learners of how Lincoln and other presidents are portrayed.
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It is now possible for people to understand just how much the Lincoln-Douglas debate over Lincoln, Lincoln-Douglas, and the Gettysburg Address has helped Lincoln gain some prominence. At Lincoln¿Di, a speech was planned for the second half of the 20th century, one which has, for nearly ten years now, become a familiar source of conversation among supporters of the campaign that Lincoln made. In this year¿Census, the top two most frequently read articles (and, at least on a percentage level, their most frequently cited articles) were “The Lincoln-Douglas Debates and the Gettysburg Address: What Have we Learned?” (June 15, 1967) and “How Do You Make Lincoln a Politician?” (June 9, 1967). As a result of these articles, the Lincoln-Douglas event itself has been referred to as “a pivotal speech” by so many politicians. And even though Lincoln is only a popular figure in Washington, D.C. for most of his presidency, the crowd’s reaction to speeches, in the late 1940¿s and 1960¿s, can be attributed to many reasons—from the desire to communicate to political and economic interests—to the desire for a certain degree of familiarity with events that did not necessarily come from Lincoln. In short, one must conclude that Lincoln¿Di was not simply an historical exposition of this popular politician¿d, but was a reflection of his own experience of how the United States has received and has received so much attention since he became president in 1857, when the public was still far older or less familiar with his views than it is now. And the response has been positive, with a certain urgency to celebrate, not just the results of this popular event, but the achievements of the past president¿d, so that Lincoln¿Di was the face of America¿s future. We are left with an important opportunity to address a number of questions, one of which is, if the next time people encounter Lincoln, which Lincoln¿d he is not, how do they relate to their own politics today? How do they respond to his speech over the years, and if so which ones are more relevant for them? Is Lincoln¿d the model for America¿t not a candidate for the Presidency someday? What do these questions involve? And should we be making this moment for more than just Lincoln? Are they the issues on their minds to solve? Are we talking to a presidential candidate who will, in the end, be much safer with regard to the American people than with one who is neither
I will begin this rhetorical critique by proving Abraham LincolnÐЃfs use of pronouns as a way of constructing himself as a peer to his audience. I will utilize several of his works beginning with the Lyceum Speech. When looking closely at the Lyceum Speech, given by Abraham Lincoln, pronouns are particularly noticeable throughout the speech. In the speech, Lincoln states, ÐЃgIn the great journal of things happening under the sun, we, the American people, find our account running under date of the nineteenth century of the Christian era. We find ourselves in the peaceful possession of the fairest portion of the earth as regards extent of territory, fertility of soil, and salubrity of climateÐЃh ( Lyceum Speech). The pronouns noted in this section (we, our, ourselves) truly exemplify LincolnÐЃfs ability to relate to his audience. He uses these pronouns as a way of constructing himself as a peer to the audience. He wants to relate to them on a similar level so that they may all feel connected. This ability of his is a demonstration of his ethos. At the time that this speech was given, Lincoln was not considered a prestigious individual; therefore this speech works to establish that reputation that was needed to further expand on his political career. This reputation that he was building, helped the audience trust the words that he had spoken to them.
Further in the speech, Lincoln poses a series of questions for the American people to think about. He asks, ÐЃgHow then shall we perform it? At what point shall we expect the approach of danger? By what means shall we fortify against it? Shall we expect some transatlantic military giant to step the ocean and crush us at a blow?ÐЃh (Lyceum Speech). As Lincoln speaks to his audience, he makes it clear that he is one of them. He wants them to understand that he looks at himself on an equal level. He does not give off the impression that he feels superior. This technique of LincolnÐЃfs was quite useful and worked to his advantage. It increased his reputation amongst the American people, which is a crucial step to take as a politician.
The way that Abraham Lincoln used pronouns to construct himself as a peer can also be seen in his speech, the Cooper Union Address. Harold Holzer makes apparent in his book, Lincoln At Cooper Union, that ÐЃgfor more than twenty paragraphs he will now show, as he neatly seizes the high ground of the argument with a triplet of possessive pronounsÐЃcLincoln always strove for such rhetorical constructionsÐЃh (Holzer 124). The following passage taken from the Cooper Union Address demonstrates how Lincoln utilizes these pronouns. ÐЃgWe must not only let them alone, but we must somehow, convince them that we do not let them alone.ÐЃh Through this statement, Lincoln utilizes pronouns to construct the idea that he and those in the North must work together as a collective whole. He is not depending solely on them to fulfill the satisfaction of making sure the South does not think they are going to let them get away with the expansion of slavery, but rather that he is equally responsible for taking control of the situation.
The Gettysburg Address can be looked upon as one of the most well-known speeches given by a politician. At this particular time, Lincoln had already become president, but what is so remarkable is that despite his superior status in society, Lincoln still manages to keep himself on the same level as the American people. Lincoln states: ÐЃgNow we are engaged in a great civil warÐЃcwe are met on a great battlefield