Rhetorical Analysis Of The City Upon A Hill

The South Park Edition
The beginning of Former president John F. Kennedy’s ‘The City Upon a Hill’ speech in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts January 9th, 1961 and only two months into his term. He has made time to meet with his home state to address them in person as he presents himself and others while talking in a serious yet emotional and patriotic tone to convince the citizens that he is dependable. Kennedy flatters the audience by praising them and that he has trusted them and they trust him too, in his work. He indicates that “For fourteen years I have placed my confidence in the citizens of Massachusetts –and they have generously responded by placing their confidence in me”(JFK). Kennedy uses strong emotions or ethos to change the

Kennedy continues on this by using a quote from John Winthrop “We must always consider.” He said, “that we shall be as a city upon a hill–the eyes of all people are upon us” (JFK). This specific piece is not meant literally since they would need to consider it as an exaggeration to just how many people would be looking upon them for guidance. Although this was a hyperbole, the way he used this exaggeration in his speech helped him further persuade the audience with a new idea and this was to get them all to understand that other people, countries or states still look up to them to do good as a whole and bring upon good change for the ones he trusts so

Kennedy mentions the history of Massachusetts and so much of what it has done for this country or sister states. He indicates this by saying, “Its leaders have shaped our destiny long before the great republic was born. Its principles have guided our footsteps in times of crisis as well as in times of calm” (JFK). He didn’t mean to flatter when saying this: he simply uses logos to give the state recognition and credit with the support and evidence from other presidents throughout the decades. He strongly indicates that no other president before him can ignore what they’ve done to help all this time using as to imply that not just during times that were peaceful or chaotic, Massachusetts has been there for them and will continue to