Barack Obama Presidential Acceptance Speech: A Rhetorical Analysis | ENGL 104, Papers of Grammar and Composition

Download Barack Obama Presidential Acceptance Speech: A Rhetorical Analysis | ENGL 104 and more Papers Grammar and Composition in PDF only on Docsity! English 104 1 December 2008 Barack Obama’s Presidential-Elect Acceptance Speech: A Rhetorical Analysis In reading Presidential-Elect Barrack Obama’s victory speech, I could not help but think of Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream” speech by the way Obama referred to his victory as “the dream of our founders” (Obama par. 1). It is clear that the time of change Obama believes is necessary has come by the amount in the total voter turn out. In his listing of various groups such as, “rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white,” (Obama par. 2) all people of the United States of America feel are included in this change and are “the hands on the arc of change” (Obama par. 3). As all traditional victory speeches include, Obama then thanks everyone involved in his victory, especially his family. The way he addresses his wife is very classy and I believe it makes him look like a man of good morals. The fulfillment of his promise to his daughters about having a new puppy for the White House also makes Obama look like he is a fun loving guy to his family. America as a whole, likes these characteristics in a president and they were placed in this speech to reinforce his public picture as such. Finally, Obama thanks us as citizens by ultimately saying, “this victory belongs to you” (Obama par. 10). He states that this could not have happened without the American people’s will for a change. Those who “dug into what little savings that had” (Obama par. 10) to donate to the cause, as well as those who volunteered, “proved that more than two centuries later, a government of the people, by the people and for the people has not perished from this Earth” (Obama par. 13). This statement coming from the Gettysburg Address, reminds the people that they are in fact a part of this enormous stage in history. As Obama starts 2 to get into the problems that lay ahead, the way they are described gain great sympathy form the listener. Instead of saying that parents have trouble making the mortgage, he says, “mothers and fathers will lie awake after their children fall asleep and wonder how they’ll make the mortgage” (Obama par. 14). In this speech, the problems are described so vividly, that the tasks in fixing them seem more important. Obama lays down his insurance when he says that road ahead will be a hard one, and the only way we can make it is together. If the success predicted or expected is not met, there lays a scapegoat. For those who disagree with him are acknowledged and inspired by the way he states that he “ will listen, especially when disagreed upon” (Obama par. 15). For or against him, Obama says that this road of change was started long ago. He says that it this change “cannot happen without us” (Obama par. 17). Obama then starts to list of all the obstacles that America has overcome. He mentions women’s right, the depression, Pearl Harbor, and most importantly, the movement of Martin Luther King and his will to overcome. In each stage of America’s history, this nation has overcome the odds to make a difference in the future. Now that Obama has proven that “America has come so far,” he leaves the people with a responsibility by saying that “there is so much more to do” (Obama par. 30). America has answered the call to all of the situations that have been already listed. Now Obama is making it known to citizens that the present call must not go unanswered, and that the time is now to make a difference in the future that our kids will grow up to see. By stating these historic facts, one believes that the present call must be answered, and “will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people” (Obama par. 31). Presidential-Elect Barrack Obama uses American history to relate with the events we a currently faced with to prove that we can prevail yet again.