Topic > Analysis of Effective Use of Rhetoric in Two Speeches

The effective use of rhetoric is a key part of speeches as they evoke emotions and convince the audience; allowing the speaker to establish their focus creating a sense of trust and transparency. A key example of this is reflected in the speeches of both Anwar Sadat and Noel Pearson as they align their use of rhetoric to mend the chasms created by past conflicts. Although both speakers share a common goal, Sadat's “Speech to the Israeli Knesset (1977)” emphasizes the need to forget the grievances and revenges of the past to pave the way for future generations. Pearson's "An Australian History for us all (1996)" recognizes discrimination and the need to reconcile with the past and present for a more harmonious and hopeful vision of the future. Although the context of the speaker and the implementation of the language are very different, both speeches attempt to unite and persuade the audience to change perceptions. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Sadat's "Speech to the Israeli Knesset" addresses the spread of hatred due to tradition and war, while refuting the need for revenge. In a context where both countries are highly religious, Sadat's use of religious references is another attempt to unite individuals and force them to overcome the prejudices and hatred of the past. Sadat appeals to the audience's ethos by establishing a religious context and then inaugurating his own spiritual credentials as a man of faith reflected through the biblical allusions "the Compassionate and Merciful" and "Peace and Mercy of God Almighty... may peace be upon all of us", connecting to God as he himself is in search of peace. The irony of “destructive wars launched by man to annihilate his fellow man” outlines the ramifications of war as well as its meaningless outcome where there are “neither winners nor losers”. The accumulation of negative emotional language in “generating generations on concepts of utter brokenness and deeply rooted animosity” evokes a sense of pathos in the audience as Sadat breaks down the borders between Israelis and Arabs alike while painting a graphic picture of the consequences of the conflict . Sadat attempts to persuade his audience that a lasting solution is possible and at the same time to establish a basis for international peace based on the hope of bilateral peace between two nations. Similarly, Pearson's “An Australian History for us all” highlights the need to reconcile progress and the need for a country and its people to embrace change. The incorporation of historiography into his speech reveals Pearson's audience, but it also relies on Pearson's desire to engage with and evoke reactions from those he quotes but, more importantly, provoke contrasting perspectives. It is when Pearson's narrative gradually transforms into a first-person narrative that the passion, belief, and commitment to a story “for all of us” that is at the heart of Pearson's presentation becomes provocative for the audience. The rhetorical question “How do we, as indigenous people, respond to the legacy of colonialism and that brutal and troubled culture from which we have been dispossessed?” reinforces his self-confessed “observations” about perspectives on guilt, identity, and history. Pearson incorporates William Cooper's letters '...taking of rightful possessions...' to allow the audience to relive the atrocities and injustices that occurred during the plundering of identity and heritage. To further reinforce this notion, the religious allusion “however possessed the country as.