A Rhetorical Analysis Of Speech By Clare Boothe Luce

Clare Boothe Luce stands in front of an audience at the Women's National Press Club in 1960 to deliver a speech about the issues and successes of the American Press. She realizes that what she has to say may not be well received by her audience because they are the journalists of the American press, so she addresses them with an introduction that purposefully prepares them for her criticism. Luce uses a kind, humorous tone to balance out her harsh message, makes herself seem credible by giving her audience compliments throughout, and she redirects the idea of journalism in a way that appeals to her audience emotionally.

Luce's introduction begins with an immediate shift in tone from being delightful to being harsh and getting down to business. This is a reoccurring tactic she uses throughout her introduction to make the tone one that the

This starts in the first paragraph when she mentions in a metaphor that she was "invited to throw rocks" at them and tells them "you have asked me to tell you what's wrong with you." When doing this, the audience begins to feel responsible for whatever they are about to hear causing them to feel obligated to listen. She also creates pathos when she expresses to the audience what a hard job she has and tells them that she knows "no audience is more forgiving." Luce also captures her audience by redefining "good journalism" as truthful work that appeals to the public's curiosity. By emphasizing that good journalism should be filled with candor, she sets her audience up for the reality that she will later reveal by accusing them of writing fake news to appeal to the public. By stating the meaning of journalism in her introduction, she hopes to revoke feelings of guilt in her audience before she even must accuse them of