A rhetorical analysis of the HeForShe Speech Emma Watson is an internationally recognized actress and current United Nations (UN) Goodwill Ambassador, who in 2014 gave a speech to a large group of UN leaders from across the world. The speech by Ms. Watson was held to start a conversation about how there is a need to change people’s imagery of what feminism is, switching from man-hating to something that involves the help of men in finding solutions. The speech by Ms. Watson also served as the launchpad for the HeForShe initiative. Emma Watson’s speech will be analyzed for the effectiveness of Pathos and Kairos. Pathos is how the author establishes their image in the mind of their audience and what emotions are evoked in the audience through word choice. Secondly, Kairos is how the author uses artistic proofs, such as Pathos, to create a sense of exigence, i.e. a reason to act in a timely manner. …show more content…
Watson is not trying to build towards her own sense of credibility or authority, but instead, she is building up everyone’s credibility. Later on, Ms. Watson continues this point by saying “If not me, who?” (Watson, 10:49) This is one of the most effective statements in Ms. Watson’s speech, as it is attempting to show the audience that all you need to join the conversation about feminism is that you care regardless of context. Ms. Watson uses the effectiveness of her last statement to propel her following statement, “If not now, when?” (Watson, 10:54) In asking “when” she is making a very effective sense of