Rhetorical Analysis Of General Douglas Macarthur's Duty, Honor, Country

On May 12th, 1962, General Douglas MacArthur, a decorated veteran of the U.S. military, presented the Sylvanus Thayer Award at the West Point Military Academy graduation. Accompanied alongside the award, was a complimentary speech addressed to the gathering of the graduating cadets of West Point. MacArthur’s address transcends the confines of a mere commencement speech, instilling profound values and ideals that resonate deeply with his generation of soldiers, and all who came after. The construction of General MacArthur’s “Duty, Honor, Country”, arguably the magnum opus of his career, could not have been accomplished without the masterful use of rhetorical appeals, claims warranted via evidence, and various rhetorical devices throughout his

MacArthur reasons with the cadets that above all else, the most important thing to a soldier should be the phrase repeatedly stated throughout his speech, “Duty, Honor, Country”. When addressing the graduating cadets of West Point Military Academy, MacArthur used several different rhetorical devices to appeal to his audience. Throughout MacArthur’s speech to the cadets of West Point, he uses metaphors to create vivid imagery and convey complex ideas to his audience more clearly. When talking about the phrase, “Duty, Honor, Country”, MacArthur utilizes a metaphor to convey the phrase's significance to the cadets, “They build your basic character. They mold you for your future roles as the custodians of the nation's defense.” (MacArthur). MacArthur notes earlier in his speech that the phrase is frequently subject to mockery and ridicule by “unbelievers”, so he uses a metaphor as a device for the cadets to truly understand the meaning behind the phrase, and how it should affect

The vivid descriptions that MacArthur gives to his audience almost make it seem that they were overseas with him during the war, driving up engagement with his speech and overall message. Finally, MacArthur uses anaphoras to draw the audience into the message being delivered, through the emphasis and repetition of certain phrases. From the beginning to the end of the speech, MacArthur frequently begins his sentences with the phrase, “Duty, Honor, Country” to draw attention to his message. For instance, “Duty, Honor, Country: Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be.” (MacArthur). MacArthur begins with the phrase, “Duty, Honor, Country” at the beginning of the sentence, before saying what a soldier could be, and should aspire to be. It helps MacArthur maintain rhythm in his speech whilst also keeping the audience dwelling on the ideas he was trying to convince them