A Rhetorical Analysis Of Josh Hawley's Speech

Although it has always been a controversial topic of debate, the idea of masculinity in America has undergone significant changes in recent years. As society has evolved, so have the expectations of what it means to be a man. Traditional American Masculinity and its defining characteristics and roles are in a state of flux and have struck debate among both political parties. On November 1, 2022, Josh Hawley a senator from Missouri delivered a speech on the American man and masculinity at the National Conservative Conference in Orlando, Florida. In his speech, Hawley sought to address what he saw as the crisis of masculinity in America and offered his solution to the problem. Josh Hawley graduated from Stanford University and Yale Law School,

He uses pathological appeal to enhance his argument and conveys an assertive tone through emotional language. He urges the audience to sympathize with these men that have been torn down for their masculinity. Later in his speech, he says that the left side is saying to ¨America and its men, you’re evil. You’re terrible¨ (Hawley, par 9). Here he wants the audience to put themselves in the shoes of the American man. By repeating the word ¨you" in his speech, he creates an assertive tone and helps the audience understand the message through rhythm. Hawley discusses that while the left celebrates a world beyond men, he emphasizes that there are many reasons the American republic doesn't and shouldn't. Hawley uses a lot of repetition in his delivery such as the phrases, ¨we must make it our aim¨ and ¨we must seek a revival¨ (Hawley, par 5). These phrases drove home his message to the audience and highlighted what he wanted them to take from the speech through repetition. Another strategy of ethos he uses is his appeal to the emotions of the audience like fear. Hawley says in sorrowful language, "It's not only the depression and darkness that now shadow so many¨ (Hawley, par 13). While his audience already holds the same values as Josh, this makes the audience feel how impactful the modern world without masculinity is. Shifting the tone, Hawley gives the people hope that there's still time to change this narrative many have. Towards the end of his speech Hawley says that ¨American men are and can be an unrivaled force for good in the world¨ (Hawley, par 17). Hence the honorific language, Hawley follows this with a demanding tone and says the people can change the world for men ¨if we can strengthen them if we can empower them¨ (Hawley, par 17). Josh Hawley utilizes persuasion with this call-to-action