Rhetorical Analysis Of George W. Bush's Speech

773 Words4 Pages

The flames rolled outwards like the smoke of a mushroom cloud. Gray plumes of darkness and misery ascended into the air. What was once beautiful cracked and wilted beneath the weightless fire. No matter how much people tried, the fire did not cease its reign of terror. This horrifying image was one not to be forgotten on September 11, 2001. Over 3000 innocent men and women were killed after the twin towers of the World Trade Center were brought down by two hijacked airplanes. George W. Bush, who was President at the time, addressed the nation hours later [nonessential dependent clause]. Throughout his speech, Bush used the three modes of persuasion: ethos (his credibility and personality), logos (his logic), and pathos (his emotional appeal). By using his wisdom cquired from being the President of the United States and by assuring the American people they were not alone, Bush was able to give off the “keep calm and carry on” vibe to somewhat uplift the hearts and minds of a mourning nation. …show more content…

Bush instantly made it his priority to display himself as a credible and qualified leader. The image of him with the American and Presidential flag in the background was so immense to his viewers that they believed anything Bush said would be the truth. This is from the incorporation of ethos in his message. Millions looked upon him; therefore, he had to know what he was doing [TIC + Conj. Adv]. One of the most notable points about his speech was how he used the words “I” and “our,” almost as if to share the responsibility he held. “Our military, Our emergency, Our first priority.” Using “our” instead of “my” gave partial responsibility to others besides him. However, Bush was always quick to claim said responsibility when it assisted the