Rhetorical Analysis Of Tear Down This Wall

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In 1987, Ronald Reagan delivered his speech to the people of Berlin entitled “Tear down this wall.” This speech was given in the hope that communism, as well as the soviet union, would be exterminated and replaced with democracy. Reagan uses body language such as upright posture and eye contact to draw his audience in and make connections with them. Reagan also uses a rather assertive tone to strengthen his argument. The context of this time period helps to define the audience directly towards the people of Germany, as well as President Gorbachev of the Soviet Union. He also uses diction to prove to the audience that he is educated and knows what he is talking about. Reagan's use of these devices help to strengthen his claim that the Berlin Wall and communism in Germany at this time needs to be eliminated in order to create a better functioning society for Germany as well as the whole world all in hopes of a …show more content…

Reagan’s use of diction specifically lets the audience know that he is knowledgeable of the topic. Reagan “understood the practical importance of liberty--that just as truth can flourish only when the journalist is given freedom of speech”(Reagan) which is exactly what the people are in need of at this time. This speech meant a huge deal at this time because the communist plague was spreading all throughout europe with no central power that could slow them down. East Berlin was one of the worst communist ridden cities in all of europe which provided Reagan with a perfect opportunity to cross the border from West Berlin into East Berlin so he could deliver his speech and let his audience know that he was not going to stop until the wall had fallen. Reagan served as the one person they could listen to that would give them hope for the future. With the tearing down of the Berlin Wall would come freedom, unity, and democracy throughout Germany along with the rest of the

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