Analysis Of The Berlin Wall

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Many great words have been spoken towards the Berlin Wall and the issues that surrounded it. The speeches and incredible words spoken by both John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan brought a new light to those uses and the conflict with the separation of Berlin, Germany. In their inspiring words they used countless uses of rhetoric al strategies such as anaphora, imagery, and the use of their addressers language to enhance and emphasize their words and appeal to the people and in doing so it soon brought the city of Berlin back together. Their uses of rhetoric were indeed similar to each other and the way they addressed the people of Berlin, and the Russian Chancellor, and their purpose both the same as well, to bring down the Berlin Wall, and the parting between whole communities, families, and friends be closed.
In Kennedy’s speech “Ich bin ein Berliner”, Kennedy uses an anaphora “the proudest boast was…in the world of freedom, the proudest boast is Ich bin ein Berliner”, to state an appeal to the people of Berlin and the families affected by the wall, and to ensue confidence and pride in them that they are unique and show no folly to their current unfortunate situation (Kennedy). He stated this to build power behind his words, and to address his audience in a manner that would ring clear even with such simplicity, his choice of an anaphora proved wise in combining their simplicity to convey a powerful description to his audience, the people of Berlin. Reagan in his “Remarks at the Brandenburg Gate”, used an anaphora as well, Reagan stated “Freedom leads to prosperity. Freedom replaces…with comity and peace. Freedom is the victor”, Reagan however was speaking to a specific person, rather than to a large consultation, instead he wa...

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... through his repetition as well when he states “if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization”, along with repeating “Mr. Gorbachev” to add more sincerity to his speech (Reagan). Both uses of repetition by both presidents gave clear emphasis on the point they were addressing, the point that East and West Berlin should be joined once again and free from the wall of concrete that separates so many. It also gave both presidents credibility to the citizens of Berlin, in that they understood the exact troubles that these people were struggling with and the only way to solve them is to bring unity and freedom to East and West Berlin.
“Ich bin ein Berliner”, these words stated by Kennedy were the first words spoken by him in German appealed immensely to the people of Berlin who heard his speech (Kennedy).

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