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Gettysburg Address Rhetorical Analysis Essay

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The Gettysburg Address: Rhetorical Analysis With the pain of the civil war -1863- dragging the civilians down, Abraham Lincoln had no choice but to remind America-especially the southern states - of the unity they once had. Through ‘The Gettysburg Address,’ Lincoln changes an aspect and obstacle- that would have weakened America. After the Gettysburg battlefield, people lost hope and mourned those who perished. Lincoln gathered the Americans to urge them to act and honor the dead. Facing slavery and discrimination, the Americans needed a cue of light ahead. This paper aims to inspect Lincoln’s use of powerful language and how it all aided him in making this speech unforgettable. Lincoln used effective rhetorical strategies in achieving his …show more content…

“Four score and seven years ago…” is the phrase Lincoln begins his speech with, referring to 87 years ago- when the signing of the Declaration had taken place. Through this technique, Lincoln reminds the citizens of the efforts made by the founding fathers to unite America, and how they owe it to them to apply these principles and fundamentals. He emphasizes the need for equality and freedom by using inclusive, repetitive phrases to stress a point that they should fight for their rights, rather than stay quiet. This forms an emotional connection with the audience and makes the situation relatable; therefore, it opens the eyes of the audience to the need of unity and equity. By repeating the words “we” and “our” several times in the speech, Lincoln includes his audience as they have a role in uniting their country. By this repetition, he convinces the citizens of the importance of saving their nation; and that the after -war affects everyone -and not just the president. He lets the people know that the all the pain is shared by everyone and not only the country’s representatives. They all act as one and should work as one to represent and save their …show more content…

He finishes his speech by using a parallel structure that is prominent worldwide: “of the people, by the people, for the people.” Lincoln brings up the democracy that they should maintain. He connects the ideals they were raised on to the need for equality and unity. They all have a part in guaranteeing America the future they all dream of; however, to accomplish that, sacrifices should be made. He jogs their memories of the voice they have, the opinions they share, and the hope they desire. He paves a path of relief in the hearts of the citizens and touches the longing for peace and that “all men are created equal” always and

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