Rhetorical Analysis Of Jason Reynolds Speech

Maddy Raimann
Mrs. Korey
English II Advanced Honors
17 March 2023
Fighting for Freedom Rhetorical Analysis In modern day society, humans often live in their own bubbles, only worrying about themselves or how the outcome of a situation will affect them. However, in a commencement speech given to Lesley University graduates in 2019, Jason Reynolds illustrates his experience where a fish in one of his high school classes truly changed his perspective on life, explaining how people who are more fortunate than others need to help those in need. In his smoothly persuasive and critically acclaimed speech given to Lesley University graduates, Jason Reynolds concisely appeals and emotionally persuades his audience through the use of alliteration and

Reynolds uses this story to share a personal anecdote, telling how the fish could be seen “...flipping and flopping and flapping, inflating, deflating, dying, only to be met by mortified and confused faces.” By using this alliteration, Reynolds is trying to evoke empathy from the graduates, wanting them to feel the sadness represented through his words. He uses alliteration to help his audience understand how the fish was moving, with the audience being able to imagine what it was like in that moment and how terrifying it was. By using alliteration, Reynolds demonstrates his overall message to the graduates how through the course of life, it is often easy for individuals to only think about themselves, not taking a look at others around them. Through taking a look at other’s situations and checking in on them, humans can learn to help those who are less fortunate. Reynolds continues his speech by reflecting on what that experience taught him, and once again uses alliteration to emphasize that “Every day is a day of

Reynolds compares the fish struggling to survive outside of its habitat to “those of us from raging waters and crashing waves, beached, but trying desperately to breathe.” He is comparing humans to sea life essentially, using symbolism in order to evoke empathy from the graduates in order for them to understand what life might feel like for people who are less privileged. Overall, he is teaching the lesson that whether humans see it or not, there are often people who struggle with poverty, inequality, or a variety of issues, but are commonly neglected. This is why Reynolds is using his speech to spread awareness that humans need to step up and help those in need, using their privilege that others may not have. Continuing with this message, Reynolds uses the analogy of a bird to describe those who are less fortunate, saying, “There are those of us whose wings have been clipped.” Reynolds compares humans to birds in this sense, stating how when humans are told to spread their wings and fly, it is often not a simple thing to do. Many individuals go through things that knock them down, making it feel like it’s impossible to get up. Through getting his audience to go into deep thought, he exemplifies his main message of how people can symbolize birds, and when these birds are able to soar