A rhetorical analysis of JFK’s inaugural address
Before George W. Bush and Barack Obama held the position of president of the United States, a man already enjoyed the position and earned a star in that hall of fame like Abraham Lincoln did. It is about the former US president, John F. Kennedy, who, without a doubt, has been hailed by critics as one of the best presidents who has governed in the United States of America. Along with this great recognition, JFK has also gained popularity and greatness with his inaugural address which was addressed not only to his fellow citizens but to people all over the world.
His inaugural address, delivered on January 20, 1961, while not the shortest of presidential addresses, was considered brief (only 1,355 words) and simple (choosing fancy words because, as he told his speechwriter, Sorensen, did not want people to think he is a charlatan. Despite the simplicity, JFK has paved the way to captivate the hearts and minds of the people with his inaugural address. Who wouldn’t, when the speech contained numerous rhetorical devices to embellish oneself?
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*windbag – a person who, like the wind,
just ignore everything he or she says
Rhetorical devices are techniques that help a writer or speaker embellish a speech and persuade and influence people regarding the argument presented. In JFK’s inaugural address, his rhetorical devices have done the job of pleasing and persuading people with his message. From just 1,355 words, he has been able to use 13 rhetorical devices to persuade people. One in particular is Alliteration.
Alliteration is a consecutive repetition of the initial sounds (vowels and consonants) in a sentence or a sentence. In JFK’s speech, a total of 28 alliterations have been used. The following alliterations are identified in bold and are labeled by their paragraph number:
(1) same solemn oath
(2) man holds in his mortal hands
(2) for which our ancestors fought
(3) leave from this moment
(3) to friends and foes alike
(4) if you wish us well
(4) We will pay any price, bear any burden
(4) the survival and success of freedom
(6) faithful friends
(7) colonial control
(7) strongly supporting
(8) struggling to break the bonds of mass misery
(10) sovereign states
(10) writing can be executed
(11) before the dark powers of destruction
(13) the constant expansion of the mortal atom
(14) sincerity is always subject to test
(19) peace preserved
(22) carry the load
(23) a great global alliance
(27) high standards of strength and sacrifice
(27) go out and lead the land we love
Another rhetorical device that has been featured in JFK’s inaugural address is Anaphora.
Anaphora refers to the repetition of one or more words at the beginning of sentences, clauses, or consecutive sentences. There have been a total of six anaphoras featured in JFK’s speech. The first group of anaphoras is indicated in Paragraph 2:
(2) … to abolish all forms of human society
and all forms of human life
Another set of anaphora is also shown in paragraph 7:
(7) We will not always expect to find them supporting our opinion.
But we will always hope to find them firmly supporting their own freedom…
The third set of anaphoras from paragraph 6 to paragraph 11 of JFK’s inaugural address is presented:
(6) To those old allies whose cultural and spiritual origins we share…
(7) To those new states which we welcome into the ranks of the free…
(8) To those people in the shacks and villages in the middle of the world…
(9) To our sister republics south of our border…
(10) To that world assembly of sovereign states, the United Nations…
(11) Finally, to those nations that would like to become our adversary…
In the following paragraphs from 15 to 19, a fourth set of anaphoras is also given:
(15) Let both sides explore what issues unite us…
(16) That both parties, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals…
(17) Let both sides try to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors…
(18) Let both sides unite to pay attention, in all corners of the earth…
(19) Let both parties unite to create a new effort…
A fifth set of anaphoras is also specified in Paragraph 8:
(8) … not because the communists are doing it,
not because we seek their votes,
but because it’s right…
Finally, in Paragraph 22 a sixth set of anaphoras is indicated:
(22) … not as a call to bear arms, although we need arms –
not as a call to battle, although we are besieged…
A number of metaphors have also been mentioned in JFK’s inaugural address.
A metaphor is a rhetorical device that directly compares a person to an object. A total of eight metaphors are listed in JFK’s speech:
(3) … the torch has been passed…
(7) …those who foolishly sought power by riding on the back of the tiger…
(9) … to help free men and free governments cast off the chains of poverty…
(9) …this peaceful revolution of hope cannot become a prey to hostile powers…
(9) … this hemisphere intends to continue owning its own home…
(13) …running to upset that uncertain balance of terror that remains…
(19) And if a cooperative beachhead can
(19) drive back the jungle of suspicion…
Antitheses have also been concretized in JFK’s inaugural address to the people. An antithesis refers to a contrast within parallel sentences. A total of eight antitheses taken from the direction are indicated:
(1) We observe today not a party victory, but a celebration of freedom, which symbolizes an end as well as a beginning, signifies renewal as well as change…
(2) … not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God.
(6) United, there is little we cannot do in a series of cooperative enterprises. Divided there is little we can do…
(15) Let both sides explore what issues unite us instead of dwelling on the issues that divide us.
(19) …not a new balance of power, but a new world of laws.
(24) I do not shrink from this responsibility, I accept it.
(25) And so, my fellow citizens, ask not what your country can do for you; Ask what you can do for your country.
(26) … ask not what the United States will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.
Two parallels in the speech have also been identified. A parallelism refers to the congruence of the tenses of verbs used in succession in sentences.
(4)…pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe…
(8) If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.
Two apostrophes have also been indicated in the opening address. An apostrophe refers to the interruption of thought to address a person or personification directly. Paragraphs 21 and 25 contained examples of apostrophes:
(21) In your hands, fellow citizens, more than in mine…
(25) And so, my fellow citizens, ask not what your country can do for you…
Two opposing rhetorical devices, Polysyndeton and Asyndeton, have also been displayed in JFK’s speech. A polysyndeton refers to the insertion of conjunctions before each word in a list. It is evident in Paragraph 19:
(19) …where the strong are just and the weak safe and peace preserved…
On the other hand, an asyndeton refers to the absence of conjunctions in a sentence, as seen in paragraphs 4, 17 and 24:
(4) … bear any burden, face any difficulty, support any friend, (and) oppose any foe…
(17) Together let’s explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate diseases, (and) harness the depths of the ocean…
(24) …energy, faith, (and) devotion…
The use of chiasmus has also been evident to embellish JFK’s inaugural address. A chiasmus is a rhetorical device that reverses the grammatical order from one sentence to the next. In paragraphs 14 and 25, examples of chiasmus have been indicated:
(14) Never negotiate out of fear, but never be afraid to negotiate.
(25) … ask not what your country can do for you; Ask what you can do for yourself
country.
Other rhetorical devices have also been used in JFK’s inaugural address. Anastrophe, which refers to the reversal of word order (syntax) to mark emphasis, becomes evident in Paragraph 5:
(5) This is what we promise, and more.
The punctuation of a point with an *aphorism, called Sententia, has also become evident in Paragraph 18:
(18) …to “undo the heavy burdens, and set the opposites free…
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*aphorism – saying; adage; cliche; maximum
Tricolon, which refers to a series of three parallel words, phrases, clauses, or statements, has also been featured in paragraph 22:
(22) … not as a call to bear arms, although we need arms –
not as a call to battle, although we are besieged,
but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle.
In some cases, numerous rhetorical devices may be implied in a sentence, clause, or statement. Apparently, a series of statements have been implied in JFK’s inaugural address with numerous rhetorical devices for each statement.
Paragraph 25 indicates four rhetorical devices: Apostrophe, Chiasmus, Antimetabole and Antithesis; Paragraph 4, two devices: Parallelism and Asyndeton; Paragraph 15, two devices: Anaphora and Antithesis.
Paragraph 25:
(Apostrophe)
So, my fellow citizens, don’t ask what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.
(chiasmus)
So, my fellow citizens, don’t ask what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.
(Antimetabol)
So, my fellow citizens, don’t ask what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.
(Antithesis)
So, my fellow citizens, don’t ask what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.
Paragraph 4:
(Parallelism)
Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we will pay any price, bear any burden, face any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to ensure the survival and success of freedom.
(Asyndeton)
Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we will pay any price, bear any burden, face any hardship, support any friend (and) oppose any foe, to ensure the survival and success of liberty. .
Paragraph 15:
(Anaphora)
(15) Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of dwelling on those.
issues that divide us.
(16) That both sides, for the first time, make serious and precise proposals for arms inspection and control, and put the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations.
(17) That both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science rather than its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer deserts, eradicate disease, harness the depths of the ocean, and foster arts and commerce.
(18) Let both sides unite to heed, in all corners of the earth, Isaiah’s command to “cast off heavy burdens and [to] Let the oppressed go free.”
(19) Let both sides unite to create a new effort, not a new balance of power, but a new world of law where the strong are just, the weak are safe, and peace is preserved.
(Antithesis)
(15) Let both sides explore what issues unite us instead of dwelling on the issues that divide us.