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Ethos In Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address

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Neil Singh Mrs. Jordan English I H (7) 17 January 23 Rhetorical analysis of Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address Speakers use three rhetorical appeals to help convince the audience of their point, ethos, pathos, or logos. In Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address, by Abraham Lincoln, we see mostly pathos, logos, and some ethos while Lincoln talks about his beliefs and intentions regarding the controversy of slavery. Lincoln also use some rhetorical devices in his speech to enhance the argument, such as personification and imagery. The audience of his speech was the relevant American government workers. Lincoln predominantly uses pathos and ethos to show that both the North and South deserved blame for the immoral sin of slavery, and to prepare for the progression away from slavery for America. In Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address’ he introduces how his first four-year presidential term has come to end, and about the nation going through a soon-to-end civil war over slavery. Lincoln’s first two words in the speech are “Fellow countrymen” (Lincoln), which may seem insignificant to some, but it is pathos. Lincoln says these words to make the audience feel inclusive and like they are on the …show more content…

He uses pathos when he says, “to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan…” (Lincoln). He is using the audience’s sense of guilt and sympathy to make a lasting impression on the audience. In the same sentence, Lincoln uses logos when he says, “...to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves with all nations” (Lincoln). This is logos because Lincoln is saying how his efforts will bring lasting peace across the nation. As Lincoln said earlier in his address, neither side of the conflict wants the war, but both are willing to fight. So to avoid war, both sides would want peace, and this is what Lincoln was appealing

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But for other words, helps to endorse this general theme, those being: care, judge, and cease. All of these words foreshadow his expectations for the future, and his feelings to come, proving he knows the nation will unite again, even if others don’t believe him, therefore allowing his main argument to gain more foot holding because it seems as though Lincoln already knows the outcome of future

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Logos because it is logical that there is a problem, the country was starting to divide and was going to war with one another. Pathos because Lincoln obviously has an emotion to whether his country is great or not. He wants his country to be the greatest on earth. And Ethos because he has a big

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Lincoln's uses rhetorical strategy throughout his Second Inaugural Address was the use of an appeal to his audience's emotions. This is evident during his entire speech Lincoln continuously revert to religious evidence of some sort to support his claim. He says that although it may seem absurd for slavery's proponents to be allowed to pray to God, that his audience and he should “judge not that [they] be not judged,” alluding to the Lord's Prayer and appealing to his audience's Christian beliefs. He continues religion when talking about the Christians, he states, “Fondly do [they] hope, fervently do

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Jaime Polit 3/22/2016 Rhetoric Rhetoric in Lincolns 2nd inaugural speech & Dickinson poem Rhetoric is a powerful tool in communication that has the ability to ultimately influence an audience towards an action or belief. Although it has a negative reputation as a device used to deceive or confuse by using words in an unfamiliar and odd sequence, the use of ethical rhetoric can serve useful in situations where a certain topic may be deemed too sensitive for direct formal communication or to explain concepts that may conflict with popular belief. Two artifacts that provide an example of this is are Abraham Lincoln’s “Second Inaugural Address” concerned with the Civil War and Emily Dickinson “Success is counted sweetest”. Both employ language in an unorthodox way and use literary devices to enhance their ideas and can be considered rhetoric as they encompass the four resources.

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In Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural address he discusses the topic of civil war and its effects on the United States. Lincoln surprised the audience with the short speech that was given just one month before the end of the Civil War. He offered his vision of the Nation’s future and tried to promote a tone of positivity and optimism. Lincoln utilizes rhetorical tools such as word choice, tone, allusions, and many forms of logos throughout his speech to convey his message of unity throughout his speech. One of the main rhetorical tools Lincoln uses throughout the speech is his word choice and corresponding tone throughout it.

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Imagine, a man with a tall hat going up to the podium. The words coming out of his mouth increases the audience inspiration every second. Abraham Lincoln had a way with words, his best being shown through the Second Inaugural address and the Gettysburg address. Furthermore, these two documents had a special meaning at that time as well as today. The documents will be presented in a manner of similarities and differences, through purpose, syntax and rhetorical devices.

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Abraham Lincoln once gave a speech so riveting that any member of the press present neglected to record the speech, as they were so transfixed by his message. This is referred to as “Lincoln’s lost speech” because there are no known recordings of it. It is widely considered by historians to be a brutal condemnation of slavery. This speech is in direct contrast with his second inaugural address. In his lost speech, he shocked his listeners almost into submission by delivering such a powerful message about the evils of slavery; but in his inaugural address, he is all for reconciliation with the very organization which sponsored slavery in the first place.

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The major claim of Lincoln's speech was that the North's best course of action was to continue fighting the war, which he supported by the evidence of the Northerners' shared senses of morality and patriotism. Lincoln's position in this speech relies on ethos, or appeal to the character of the rhetor. The appeal to ethos exists partly because he already has some ethos from being the president of the Union. His audience respect him as their leader, so they will be likely to listen to what he has to say. However, Lincoln also builds his ethos throughout the speech.

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Abe Lincoln, in his second inaugural address, uses language with which the audience can connect and relate. Through inclusive pronouns, parallel sentence structure, pathos, and metaphors, Lincoln does not simply list off what the war has entailed or recommend a certain path the people must take. Lincoln instead consoles the nation as if it was a dear old friend whom is in dire need of advice. The first rhetorical strategy Lincoln used was inclusive pronouns such as “we”, “us”, and “all”. Additionally, the president began the address with the inviting words “Fellow Countrymen”.

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He doesn’t want to dwell on the future, but work on the present. He wants to conduct change and orchestrate harmony among the states. Also, especially, from paragraph 2, Abraham Lincoln starts using the pronoun “all” and, different forms of it, more often to highlight the inclusiveness of the aggregation, North & South, and to make everyone, including himself, on equal ground. This is to bring a sense of unity and appeal to reason. By bringing a sense of unity, he tries to achieve peace and ease in the tension.

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President, Abraham Lincoln expresses, in his speech, the “Second Inaugural Address” (1865), that he is taking an oath for the second appearing of the Presidential Office. He supports his claim by first telling about how four years ago people based their votes upon the Civil War that was occurring, then he talked about slaves that contributed to the war, then he talks about that the Lord can only judge and that he chooses if the slaves will remain enslaved, and finally he talks about how we as people need to work to keep our nation good. Abraham’s purpose is to remind people about the first Inaugural Address and to encourage them to work on the nation in order to keep a good nation. He establishes a hopeful tone for his fellow countrymen.

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President Abraham Lincoln uses a variety of rhetorical strategies in his Second Inaugural Address to pose an argument to the American people regarding the division in the country between the northern states and the southern states. Lincoln gives this address during the American Civil War, when politics were highly debated and there was a lot of disagreement. Lincoln calls for the people of America to overcome their differences to reunite as one whole nation once more. Lincoln begins his Second Inaugural Address by discussing the American Civil War and its ramifications.

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The first is his opening statement “Fellow Countrymen”. Lincoln is initially stating that he is as much a part of the working class as any other man. That he is speaking to friends rather than “his people”. When the President says he sees the common people as equals it draws a lot of attention and gives off a good feeling to anyone listening. Another is his constant praise of the Union.

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