preview

Rhetorical Analysis Of Pearl Harbor Speech

Decent Essays

The famous speech Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation by Franklin D. Roosevelt shows us a vast amount of rhetorical appeals: Pathos, Ethos, and Logos to the nation. The speech given by Franklin D. Roosevelt shows us the intended audience and the persuasion used in order to change the peoples’ minds to defend our nation. Let’s begin with the Pathos for this particular speech. The use of Pathos in this speech are used in a way that affects everyone’s emotions do to the attack on Oahu, Hawaii. Here’s an example of pathos in the speech given: “The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost (Franklin D. Roosevelt).” Roosevelt stated that the attack caused severe damage to our military forces, which affected the military emotional and physically as well as the citizens. The president also stated that a vast number of Americans were lost, which would appeal to the emotions of the nation. With Roosevelt’s statements the U.S. people are now feeling unsecure whereas the president wants to go to war to show other nations that we will defend ourselves. Another example would be, “The United States was at peace with that nation (Japan).” After hearing the speech, this quote would also become a part of Pathos, therefore, people’s emotions are starting to rise up do to the fact that Japan attacked the U.S. when we had a peace treaty. Moving on from Pathos we have Ethos that make the speech credible; One great example is the president, Franklin D. Roosevelt. Since the president is well-known about everywhere in the U.S., it makes the speech more reliable and trustworthy. Another important aspect that makes the speech credible is that the speech is given in front of the whole nation (through radio) including: people of the U.S., Congress, Vice president, Speaker of the House, members of the Senate, and the House of Representatives. As well as Pathos and Ethos, we have some Logos that make the speech even more credible and logical, to believe what the president is saying is true. An example from the speech would be, “It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious

Get Access