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JFK’s Inaugural Address Rhetorical Analysis Essay
In JFK’s Inaugural Address he uses many rhetorical terms such as allusion, metaphors, parallelism, and antimetabole. He uses these rhetoric to build up a sense of American pride, to have a common enemy, and also to ask for support of the nation to support their country. These goals are approached in a tough manner, but with the rhetoric it increases the odds of a positive reaction from audience. First, JFK shows the audience the pride he has for his country. He uses the allusion, “For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three-quarters ago,” to show the audience that he really is committed to his obligations just as the past presidents were. He also refers to his duties and responsibilities through the metaphor, “Let the word go forward from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of American” he is referring to the torch of the Olympic games that gets passed. The torch is always handled with great responsibility and pride. This basically flatters the audience as he also gives responsibility to fellow Americans. Second, he unites the people by creating a common enemy. He uses the metaphor, “remember that, in the past, those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside”, to describe the ways other countries were trying to “gain power”. The tiger riding is compared to the nuclear weapons. He uses tiger riding because it is also risky, reflecting on having nuclear weapons and threatening to use, which can lead to war. Basically saying that using nuclear weapons to try and intimidate with them was foolish. Later in the speech he uses parallelism saying, Let both sides explore what problems unite us…Let both sides, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control of arms…Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of