Rhetorical Analysis Of Lou Gehrig's Speech

The science of persuasion has been around since humans could speak and write. The Egyptians and Mesopotamians praised those with the ability to speak with wisdom and artistry, this was known as rhetoric. Rhetoric is still used to this date in speeches, propaganda, civil movements, and much more. Legendary baseball player, Lou Gehrig used rhetoric to humble himself and to thank his audience for all their support after he was diagnosed with ALS. “Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about the bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth. I have been in ballparks for seventeen years and have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans.” In the beginning of Gehrig’s

“When you have a wonderful mother-in-law who takes sides with you in squabbles with her own daughter — that’s something. When you have a father and a mother who work all their lives so that you can have an education and build your body—it’s a blessing. When you have a wife who has been a tower of strength and shown more courage than you dreamed existed — that’s the finest I know.” At this point in his speech he has won the attention of everyone. He uses rhetoric to evaluate his current position in and gives a purpose to his “bad break.” He thanks his audience and inspires them to always stay positive, achieving the goal for his

He was truly a master of language. In his Mark Twain Speaks to Misses Tewksbury’s School for Girls on Smoking, Drinking, and Lying he takes his experience and skill to give young adults advice on how they should proceed through life. “I don't know what to tell you girls to do. Mr. Martin has told you everything you ought to do, and now I must give you some don'ts.” Setting himself up with an authoritative persona, Twain begins by humbling himself by giving letting the audience believe that he does not know what the girls should do, but he starts his subject by starting with what they don't want to do. He then goes on to deliver the speech’s purpose stating; “First, girls, don't smoke--that is, don't smoke to excess. I am seventy-three and a half years old, and have been smoking seventy-three of them. But I never smoke to excess--that is, I smoke in moderation, only one cigar at a time.” Twain adds wisdom persona by giving the audience an idea of his age which leads them to believe that he is experienced much in his life. When addressing the issue of consumption he does not flat out reject smoking, but rather he says that the audience should live honestly and never indulge in excessive consumption. He adds to his delivery by admitting he is an avid smoker and knows how smoking is pleasurable. Twain persists, adding “Second, don't drink--that is, don't drink to excess. Third, don't marry--I mean, to