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John F Kennedy Inaugural Address Rhetorical Analysis Essay

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RHETORICAL ANALYSIS: JOHN F. KENNEDY’S INAUGURAL ADDRESS

John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address spread messages of peace and unity to millions of United States' citizens as well as millions of people worldwide. By using a wide variety of rhetorical devices and powerful diction, John F. Kennedy conveys his message, which is simple, yet powerful. One of the most prominent messages displayed in his speech is unity. On paragraph 12, he uses an imperative sentence to request adversary nations to reconsider their rivalry so they can find the best in each other and work together as one to accomplish far more than a single nation could. He requests that, instead of using their knowledge of science to create war machines, they should use their knowledge to eradicate diseases …show more content…

"...to convert our good words into good deeds…" and "to assist free men and free governments…". Like many other politicians, Kennedy promises to do what he says he will do. It is meant to give a positive impact for United States citizens, that they can trust this man with their future in America and not mess it up. He promises to assist other countries and help them keep their independence by backing them up when threat of war reaches them. The quote "...this peaceful revolution of hope cannot become the prey of hostile powers." ties back to "...the instruments of war have outpaced the instruments of peace…", which is used as a conduplicatio and oxymoron. The two quotes tie together because Kennedy mentions that war and controversy far outstrip peace, but he states that peace must not let the war and controversy intimidate it. He extends this idea to the citizens of the United States. He uses metonymy in paragraph 22 to represent the citizens as one. He states that we, as citizens, must join the effort to battle against common enemies of man, such as tyranny, poverty, and war so we can achieve unity and peace on all sides of the

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