rhetorical analysis on barack obama - Hayes 1 Ryan Hayes...

Hayes 1
Ryan Hayes
Mrs. Morrison
Eng 111 EB
3 October 2008
The King of Pathos
Do you like tomatoes? Well, let’s just say that I have seen them many times. I remember being
on my soap box, trying to speak to everyone about a topic. I would be so nervous, sweating a great deal.
As a result, I came in last place in many competitions. The award for coming in last was a nice big
tomato, which was thrown at me. Unlike me, a man that has been successful at speaking in public would
be Barack Obama. His rhetoric can influence the minds of many people. Barack Obama, who spoke
about race on March 18, 2008, does a fantastic job in drawing in his audience.
To begin with, the first thing Obama said in his speech may have surprised viewers. He started
off with a quote, which expressed unity. Obama said, “We the people, in order to form a more perfect
union” (Obama). It was fascinating to start off with an issue that divides people with a quote that depicts
the United States being together as one. The quote Obama used made people watching feel good about
their country. From this positive energy, he sets himself up later on in the speech. Obama clearly lets
people know what he thinks America’s mission is: to form the best possible democracy that we can offer.
Later on, he talked about a group of men that came together and signed the declaration of
independence in order to form a democracy (Obama). Unlike what one would expect, he used words and
phrases that make this event more exciting, like “America’s improbable experiment” and “statesmen and
patriots who traveled across an ocean to escape the tyranny and persecution…” (Obama). This wording
makes the declaration of independence seem more precious. Not only that, but he informed the listeners
on what exactly freedom is and what freedom really requires.

Hayes 2
Once the listeners are glorified for the sacrifice our country has made, he uses that building block
to express the issue of the topic. Obama explained that the declaration was signed but it was not finished
(Obama). “Our sin of slavery”, on the next line, answered the question of why the declaration was
spoiled (Obama). Slavery was a common custom at the time, so he is not implying that they made a bad
choice. Now looking back, it was an issue that caused a great deal of trouble for the future, and it still
does today. Although slavery was abolished, racism is still a major problem in our society. Obama then
stated that the constitution promises liberty, justice, and a perfected union (Obama). This interpretation