Rhetorical Analysis: Nelson Mandela’s Inagural Speech Essay Example
Rhetorical Analysis: Nelson Mandela’s Inagural Speech Essay Example

Rhetorical Analysis: Nelson Mandela’s Inagural Speech Essay Example

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  • Pages: 4 (1000 words)
  • Published: August 12, 2017
  • Type: Case Study
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On May 10. 1994. Nelson Mandela was elected South Africa’s first black President. in that country’s foremost genuinely democratic election. Before his presidential term. Mandela was an anti-apartheid militant and as a direct consequence ended up spending 27 old ages in prison. He became a symbol of freedom and equality. while the apartheid authorities condemned him. After his release in February. 1990. he helped take the passage into a multi-racial democracy for South Africa. The intent of this communicating is to look at Mandela’s effectivity in his inaugural address. which occurred May 10th. 1994 in Pretoria. through both the written address every bit good as his presentation of that address.

Mandela uses chiefly the channels of ethos ( character ) and poignancy ( emotion ) . Through careful scrutiny of both Mandela’s written work ( his address ) an

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d his existent presentation of that address. I believe that Mandela’s written address is a really effectual piece of communicating and therefore statement. On the other manus. the manner that Mandela nowadayss and argues it. although effectual. has its defects.

Mandela’s written address is articulately written. in fluxing sentences with dramatic and convincing linguistic communication. His authorship is uses many analogies. These are effectual because it brings about a 3rd dimension to his address. For illustration. “each one of us is as closely attached to the dirt of this beautiful state as are the celebrated Brazilian rosewood trees of Pretoria and the silver wattle trees of the bushveld. ” Here he uses non merely an analogy. but besides relates it closely towards the people of South Africa. Not merely here. but through his authorship he relates good to th

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people of South Africa ( his audience ) good. He speaks straight to them in fact. placing himself as one of them.

This can be seen through Mandela mentioning to himself as “I” and to his audience non merely in the informal. “you. ” to interrupt down a barrier. but in the really personal. “we. ” therefore including himself. and doing himself a portion of. This draws him closer to his audience through doing his audience experience closer to him. Everything is an Argument negotiations about this. in Chapter 3. Arguments Based on Character. “Speaking to readers straight. utilizing I or you. for case. besides enables you to come closer to them when that scheme is appropriate. ” Through the usage of analogies and his relation to the audience Mandela does two things ; one establishes his credibleness with his audience by going one with them. and two inspires them by touching their bosom.

Another rhetorical device that Mandela uses which makes his composing effectual is anaphora. Defined by americanrhetoric. com. this device is. “repetition that occurs when the first word or set of words in one sentence. clause. or phrase is/are repeated at or really near the beginning of consecutive sentences. clauses. or phrases ; repeat of the initial word ( s ) over consecutive phrases or clauses. ” One illustration of this device being used in by Mandela in this address is. “Let there be justness for all. Let there be peace for all. Let there be work. staff of life. H2O and salt for all. Let each cognize that for each the organic structure. the head and the psyche have been freed to carry

through themselves. ” Here is another illustration of this device being used. “Never. ne'er and ne'er once more shall it be that this beautiful land will once more see the subjugation of one by another and endure the indignity of being the rotter of the universe. ” In both illustrations this is effectual because on top of the strong thoughts and sentiment being proposed. due to the repeat. it is being about branded into the audiences caput.

I have watched Mandela nowadays this address several times. watching for what I believe are his strengths and failings in doing this a more effectual statement. When Mandela speaks. there is barely any inflexion in his voice. However. at the same time the tone of his voice does command regard from his audience. While Mandela speaks. he besides uses no manus gesture. or gesture of any other signifier at all. nor makes any sustained oculus contact at all. He holds his address notes in his manus. and that is all. mentioning from notes and looking briefly at his audience. pausing and so looking back at his notes. One might state that this detracts from the effectivity of his address. in this reviewer’s sentiment. I do non needfully cognize if that is truth. I am non certain whether or non Mandela’s public presentation adds much to the written work. I think it is the fact that the address is written so good that makes this address such a ace statement and piece of communicating ; nevertheless I do non believe that anything that Mandela does or does non make takes off.

While watching Mandela show his address something that this referee

besides paid attending to was how his audience received Mandela which speaks aloud to the effectivity. The audience seems excited to have non merely Mandela’s address. but besides Mandela the adult male. This means that Mandela’s statement has been persuasive ; he has sold himself! Overall. I believe that Mandela’s address is an effectual statement and has written and presented an effectual piece of communicating. He has done this through these methods: utilizing rhetorical devices. utilizing poignancy and ethos to acquire in touch with his audience. cognizing his audience and therefore cognizing how to associate to and with them.

Plants Cited

University of Pennsylvania – African Studies Center
& lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www. Africa. upenn. edu/Articles_Gen/Inaugural_Speech_17984. hypertext markup language & gt ;

YouTube – Nelson Mandela’s Inaugural Speech
hypertext transfer protocol: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=A5LcxkNpkns

AmericanRhetoric: Rhetorical Devicess in Sound
& lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www. americanrhetoric. com/rhetoricaldevicesinsound. htm & gt ;

Wikipedia – the free encyclopaedia. Nelson Mandela
& lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Nelson_Mandela & gt ;

Lunsford. Andrea and John J. Ruszkiewicz. Everything’s An Argument. Boston: Bedford. 2007.

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