Essays

The Effectiveness of Rhetoric

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Rhetoric is an art of language that is used to persuade an audience. Many witness rhetoric through speeches though it may also be seen in many pieces of literature. Through the decades rhetoric is a useful way to make a speaker's purpose known and as a tool to develop it through their speech. In two separate points in history, both speakers, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the thirty-second U.S. president, and Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani activist, use rhetoric to advance their purposes in their speeches. Although they both use rhetorical devices well, Malala best utilizes rhetoric throughout her speech.

    Malala Yousafzai in her speech to the United Nations most effectively uses rhetoric to advance her purpose. Malala gave this speech in New York City following her recovery from being shot in the head by the Taliban. Throughout, Malala uses repetition to reiterate the importance of her words as well as creating a rhythm. The literary definition of repetition is the repeating of words or phrases to make the idea more prominent in the piece. Malala says, "We realize the importance of light when we see darkness. We realize the importance of our voice when we are silenced... We realized the importance of pens and books when we saw the guns" (Yousafzai 312). Based on her speech, one must conclude Malala most effectively used repetition to advance her purpose because she is drawing in the audience so they may see her point of view. Malala illustrates her point, after her phrase of repetition, "we realize [d] the importance," of the need for education. She utilizes these words as a jumping point to dive into her message, the words following. Likewise, the rhythm she creates with her use of repetition draws the listener's attention and provides something to focus on, even for only a few moments of the entire whole. Later on, through her speech, Malala uses repetition again. At this point, she is addressing injustices throughout the world. Now she uses a repetitive phrase to infuse power into her words. She says, "we must not forget that millions of people are suffering from poverty, injustice, and ignorance. We must not forget that millions of children are out of schools. We must not forget that our sisters and brothers are waiting for a bright peaceful future" (Yousafzai 313). The most logical conclusion one can draw from her speech is that Malala best utilizes repetition to advance her purpose because of the strength behind the words she uses. Rather than being a jumping point, this time her starting phrase, "we must not forget," coupled the first two times with, "that millions," are used to show how big some problems are in the world. She then comes in with her last line of repetition to relate the big problems to her audience saying, "our sisters and brothers are waiting". Malala evokes her audience to realize that they are a part of the solution. Malala Yousafzai uses the rhetorical device of repetition to bring attention and draw her audience to her message.

One could argue that Franklin Delano Roosevelt most effectively uses rhetoric to advance his purpose. Roosevelt delivered this speech as a State of the Union address, an annual speech given by the president to Congress. He gave this speech to convince Congress and the American people to join the war effort for World War II. Roosevelt uses repetition in various parts of his speech. He states, "That is why the future of all the American republics is today in serious danger. That is why this Annual Message to the Congress is unique in our history. That is why every member of our executive branch of the government and every member of the Congress face great responsibility and great accountability" (Roosevelt 272). Although someone might consider that Roosevelt's use of rhetoric is most effective to advance his purpose, this is an incorrect way of thinking because his words may not connect with all listeners. His use of repetition is to make his words powerful, which is effective as it drives towards his message that all must work to protect those that have or will be harmed through the war. This speech is directed, mostly, towards Congress, however, the whole of America is his audience. These words, though powerful to some, become ineffective to those who do not have a firm grasp on politics. Earlier in his speech, Roosevelt addresses his audience using the rhetorical device pathos. This device is used to evoke sympathy from the audience. Roosevelt says, "Today, thinking of our children and of their children, we oppose enforced isolation for ourselves or for any other part of the Americas" (Roosevelt 270). One could argue that Roosevelt's use of pathos is most effective, however, that is an invalid response because it is unclear whom Roosevelt is speaking about. His statement they would help to oppose a negative force to protect people, including children, is effective when addressing both Congress and the normal population (most normal citizens would want to stop or help find an end to any war). Roosevelt's use of pathos only becomes ineffective when one sees he is not clear to whom they would be protecting. He made their effort seem noble as they would protect many lives, but it may be troubling to tell whether they will protect parts of the world from oppression or just themselves. When Roosevelt states, "our children and their children," it can easily be confusing as their children could refer to children in the world that are being affected by the war or the future generations of Americans. If seen as the latter, Roosevelt's use of pathos could be seen as a selfish notion. As seen, Roosevelt's use of rhetorical devices is not the most efficient to develop and explain his purpose.

    Definitively, Malala Yousafzai most effectively uses rhetoric to advance her purpose. Continuing with her speech at the United Nations, Malala also uses the rhetorical device parallelism. The definition of rhetorical parallelism is the construction or structure of a sentence to create a pattern. Through this form of rhetoric, the author quite literally draws a parallel between two ideas. Malala says, "Weakness, fear and hopelessness died. Strength, power and courage were born" (Yousafzai 310). Based on her speech, one must conclude Malala most effectively uses parallelism to advance her purpose because she depicts a precise parallel between two opposing ideas. Her speech is about her experiences in her home country, her encounters with the Taliban, and how this relates to the power of receiving an education and standing in unity against oppressing forces. This deft parallel that Malala shows between where she was, and where many are, and where she is today shows her effectiveness when using this rhetorical device; weakness to strength, fear to power, hopelessness to courage. Through this example of her parallelism, Malala also ties in pathos, emotions, as she and many felt weak, fearful, and hopeless in the face of oppression. She continues to use parallelism later in her speech. She uses a handful of well-known figures that many throughout the world could recognize and respect. She says, "This is the compassion that I have learned from Muhammad- the prophet of mercy- Jesus Christ, and Lord Buddha. This is the legacy of change that I have inherited from Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, and Muhammad Ali Jinnah" (Yousafzai 311). Based on Malala's speech, one must conclude Malala most effectively uses parallelism to advance her purpose because she can relate her broad ideas to figures that many can understand. Through this section, Malala draws a parallel between great spiritual figures of a few major religions through the world, Islam, Christianity/Catholicism, and Buddhism, to major peacemakers that brought along social change. This parallel allows her to connect her personal ideas to the many that believe and support these figures she has learned and received some of their bequeathed benevolence from (this also gives her a form of credibility [ethos]). Given these points, Malala Yousafzai most efficiently utilizes rhetoric to aid and advance her purpose.

    As shown in multiple ways, the young Malala Yousafzai employs rhetorical devices in her speech to make her words have an impact. Though not accomplished as well, Franklin Delano Roosevelt also uses rhetoric to create power within his speech. Malala's speech, however, leaves the audience understanding what she went through, with the touches of emotion intermingled with her parallelism and may feel empowered to stand up and make a change as she allows everyone to feel a part of the change that could make a future that all should be proud of. Her words accede to people striving to make a change in the world.