The art of constructing a sophisticated, well-written piece of work is a feat of it’s own. Proceeding to take that piece and orally presenting it to a audience is on a whole new level. One who excels at this has to be multifaceted with strengths in many areas. Mandela is a prime example of an individual who encompasses the qualities of a brilliant speechwriter and also a speaker in front of the masses. Mandela rallied an entire nation, that was predominantly separated due to the apartheid laws present at the time, using only his voice, spirit, and unwavering determination. After analyzing Mandela’s speech “I am prepared to die”, evidence of ethos, logos, pathos, and rhetorical questions showcases Mandela’s ability as a very established writer and presenter of speeches. …show more content…
Ethos is the speaker's ability to build credibility and trustworthiness with the audience. In the instance where the speaker is not able to successfully execute this, the corresponding result is an uncertain audience not knowing where to put their trust. Mandela accomplishes ethos right out of the gate as he acknowledges his position in the trial, “The First Accused” (Nelson Mandela Foundation), of the many when it came to charges alleged charges against the South African government. Furthermore, Mandela elaborates on his credentials when it comes to this case and the achievements that brought him to his current situation. For example “I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Arts and practiced as an attorney in Johannesburg for a number of years in partnership with Oliver Tambo” (Nelson Mandela Foundation). This sets the stage for the audience, which on this case is the court of the Rivonia Trial. He also solidifies his competence when he references a very reputable name in law at the time, Oliver Tambo. Another example of Mandela’s credibility was brought up when he talked about his tour with the African National Congress. “It was on this note that I left South Africa to proceed to Addis Ababa as a delegate of the ANC. My tour was a success. Wherever I went I met sympathy for our cause and promises of help. All Africa was united against the stand of White South Africa, and even in London I was received with great sympathy by political leaders, such as Mr. Gaitskell and Mr. Grimond. In Africa I was promised support by such men as Julius Nyerere, now President of Tanganyika; Mr. Kawawa, then Prime Minister of Tanganyika; Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia; General Abboud, President of the Sudan; Habib Bourguiba, President of Tunisia…” (Nelson Mandela Foundation). These names were all mentioned to ameliorate his own stance when it came to the issues he was trying to bring to attention. All the names stated were names of power that ranged across many nations extending to the United Kingdom in Europe. Mandela’s credibility was never in question at the end of the speech as he used strong strategies to build a sense of trustworthiness and reliability with the audience. Logos is reasoning the speaker uses, overall logical connections, and/or statistics and evidence referenced to back their point. This technique was seen when Mandela made the claim “It must not be forgotten that by this time violence had, in fact, become a feature of the South African political scene” (Nelson Mandela Foundation). He then went on to explain his viewpoint. “There had been violence in 1957 when the women of Zeerust were ordered to carry passes; there was violence in 1958 with the enforcement of cattle culling in Sekhukhuneland; there was violence in 1959 when the people of Cato Manor protested against pass raids; there was violence in 1960 when the Government attempted to impose Bantu Authorities in Pondoland. Thirty-nine Africans died in these disturbances. In 1961 there had been riots in Warmbaths, and all this time the Transkei had been a seething mass of unrest.” Mandela used two different techniques in that particular passage. The first technique was that he used a total of five specific examples of violence due to politics that had occurred. The second technique was the use of the statistic “the 39 Africans that died in the disturbances” (Nelson Mandela Foundation) to support his claim. Mandela went back to using statistics several times in the speech, most notably when he talked about education in South Africa and the unjust treatment the African Americans received. “According to figures quoted by the South African Institute of Race Relations in its 1963 journal, approximately 40 per cent of African children in the age group between seven to fourteen do not attend school. For those who do attend school, the standards are vastly different from those afforded to white children. In 1960-61 the per capita Government spending on African students at State-aided schools was estimated at 12.46 rands. In the same years, the per capita spending on white children was 144.57 rands. Although there are no figures available to me, it can be stated, without doubt, that the white children on whom 144.57 rands per head was being spent all came from wealthier homes than African children on whom 12.46 rands per head was being spent” (Nelson Mandela Foundation). His effective use of statistics made his argument close to undisputable. Also he used an informed opinion in the second half of the statement when he made the claim that the white children came from wealthier houses than the black children. All in all, Mandela excelled at using logical appeal in this speech as all his points were clearly conveyed with very high success. Pathos is words or phrases the speaker uses to activate emotions. Contrary to what the common belief is, Mandela didn’t use this strategy nearly as much as he used the prior two strategies of ethos and logos. This was due to the fact that the audience for this speech was a court system, not solely his supporters which was more traditional for Mandela during that time period. The one instance where pathos stood out came at the very end of the speech. “This then is what the ANC is fighting. Their struggle is a truly national one. It is a struggle of the African people, inspired by their own suffering and their own experience. It is a struggle for the right to live. During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die” (Nelson Mandela Foundation). This last passage is chalked full of emotional appeal to the people of South Africa. The struggle they have been facing has finally been brought into the light. Mandela goes as far as to saying he is prepared to die for the ideals he believes in and that quote will always be infamously remembered. His conclusion to the speech was extremely vivid, filled with passion to firmly secrete his beliefs and ultimately the beliefs for many black African Americans of South Africa. Rhetorical devices are a use of language that is intended to have an effect on its audience. Mandela used several rhetorical questions throughout his speech.
The following two created extra impact upon deliverance. "Who will deny that thirty years of my life have been spent knocking in vain, patiently, moderately, and modestly at a closed and barred door?” (Nelson Mandela Foundation) and “What have been the fruits of moderation?” (Nelson Mandela Foundation). The similarity between these questions is that they both cannot be answered. Mandela takes advantage of this fact by ending several of his main points with one of these questions as it closes the topic in a very firm and powerful way. Mandela mastered the placement of these questions to ensure undivided attention from the audience. Another device used by Mandela very frequently throughout the speech was negative connotation directed to the government of South Africa. This also ties in with repetition, another tool he used. One particular phrase which was both repeated heavily and characteristic of the negative connotation was “government violence” (Nelson Mandela Foundation). This was a doubled up phrase as he was both trying to prove his innocence in the matter yet also voicing the frustrations that many South Africans felt at the
time. Nelson Mandela is a true icon, not only of South Africa, but also as a civil rights activist. His speeches were purely composed and delivered to bring rightful justice to the oppressed South Africans under the apartheid regime. Although it took an extended period of time, the words of Mandela in the form of his speeches, in particular “I am prepared to die”, proved to be a riveting reminder and the ultimate force when it came to the end of apartheid in the early 1990s. When one thinks of South Africa, Nelson Mandela will immediately come to mind as his influence resulted in long term hope and prosperity for the nation and as his speeches was the fuel to his fire, he establishes himself as a frontrunner in the conversation of the very elite speech presenters to ever live.
Through pain in our hearts, comes wisdom through our minds.In Martin Luther King Jr.’s (MLK Jr.) eulogy by Robert F. Kennedy. The eulogy expresses MLK Jr.’s life and love to justice for his fellow human beings. Robert F. Kennedy was able to overcome injustice through non-violent means by using repetition and allusion in his speech.
Obama’s speech at Mandela memorial (transcript); ‘Mandela taught us the power of action, but also ideas’, Tuesday, December 10, 9:09 AM
In a world that is hungry for heroes and leaders to rise and speak up for the weak, there will only be a few people who will step up and take on that role. Nelson Mandela’s autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, is an Alan Paton Award winning book that speaks of the struggles of an influential leader who faced adversity in the early 1900’s, while trying to gain freedom from his own demons and for the African people whose voice had been oppressed by their government. The idea expressed throughout the Mandela’s work is that the struggle for freedom is never over. Thus, freedom is not only for the oppressed, but for the oppressors too, and to achieve this, one must take a long walk to freedom just as Nelson Mandela did for his people and South Africa.
Dr. King uses ethos, logos, and pathos effectively throughout his letter to address a large audience. He intertwines the three rhetorical strategies seamlessly to support his argument. Although Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. has his critics in the clergy who argue against his civil rights demonstrations in Birmingham, he effectively uses all three types of rhetorical strategies to effective persuade his critics by explaining why his actions are just and timely in his “Letter from Birmingham Jail.”
He opens his speech with “I greet you all in the name of peace, democracy and freedom for all.” (Mandela)
Nelson Mandela: The Art of Civil Disobedience Have you ever wondered what it was like to make a difference and even change something in your country? How would you feel if you were considered a hero by your people? Civil disobedience is a form of protest that uses a law to show that it is not needed. The protestors intentionally violate a law that they are protesting against (Suber). For example, Rosa Parks used civil disobedience by sitting at the front of the bus because she believed that all people are the same and deserved equal rights.
Attention Getter- Helped bring an end to apartheid and has been a global advocate for human rights. He was a leader of both peaceful protest and armed resistance against white minorities oppressive regime in a racially divided South Africa. His actions landed him in prison for nearly three decades and made him the face of the antiapartheid movement both within his country and internationally.
Nelson Mandela's piece "I Am Prepared To Die" shows Nelson's style of writing. Nelson came across this issue in a very sophisticated manner at times. He brought in factual evidence which draws in listeners. Whenever Nelson made his statements of the living conditions of Africans due to governmental policies he gives statistics. "Forty percent of Africans live in hopeless overcrowded and, in some cases, drought-stricken reserves, where soil erosion and the overworking of the soil makes it impossible for them to live properly off the land. Thirty p...
Barack Obama’s eulogy of Nelson Mandela is a beautiful, passionate speech which uses a range of different techniques: rhetorical, non-verbal, and language styles – to be able to connect and communicate his messaged effectively with his audience. Obama’s ability to combine his strong voice and tone control along with his powerful words create a sense of emotion which cannot be underestimated. Obama understands the means needed to influence others and understands how to execute presentations to benefit his professional and political credibility. It’s unfortunate surrounding the circumstances in which Barack Obama had to present this speech, but it’s a speech that will be known as one of the most powerful, moving, inspiring and passionate tribute to someone who was beloved by millions, and will be missed.
Worse, barriers to communication, “obstacles that interrupt the flow of conveying and receiving messages,” had arisen due to the division between the whites and blacks (P.380). Because of this, the future of South Africa was not only misunderstood by South Africans, but by the international community as well. In order to promote his vision, Mandela understood that he would need to actively communicate, “the…transmitting [of] information, thoughts, and processes through various channels,” to make his intentions known, and to create motivation, “drive to complete a task,” throughout the country (P.
As Mandela grew more aware of the world, he begins to see the bigger picture. An entire country that belongs to his people, now denied from them, and his race looked down upon by British usurpers.This is what drove “a law abiding attorney” to become a man of rebellion. Filled with a hunger for freedom, and a need to right what has been wronged, simple obstacles like prison and persecution will not get in the way of this man's wish to be free. “When I walked out of prison, that was my mission, to liberate the oppressed and the oppressor both”. Nelson Mandela not only was able to see his people being oppressed, but he could see that the oppressor was not exactly free either. That a man who oppresses his fellow man is trapped in a prison of hatred, and that he, his people, and his oppressors, must be freed from this vicious cycle. This is what led him to become the President of the ANC (African National Congress), and an
1. Thesis: Nelson Mandela’s courage brought justice to his country and greatly improved South Africa overall.
“The time comes in the life of any nation when there remain only two choices: submit or fight” (“Nelson Mandela”). Nelson Mandela took the chance and fought for his rights and freedom. Mandela has gone through many troubles in his life since the day he was born. A young man that had no shoes till he approached the age of sixteen, and then transformed into a great political leader of his country. Mandela’s life is an impressing story to be told!
In her article " Do You Speak Presidential?" Trester explains how language is a powerful political tool presidents use to project a sense of pity and it 's not always what you say but how you say it (399). This sheds a light on Mandela 's speech with his use of pathos to target emotion and pity from the audience. "That spiritual and physical oneness we all share with this common homeland explains the depth of the pain we all carried in our hearts as we saw our country tear itself apart in a terrible conflict" (419). "Each time one of us touches the soil of this land, we feel a sense of personal renewal" (419). The language and tone Mandela speaks in projects a sense of pity as Trester says. Trester also says how language creates an identity. " Language is and will continue to be an important tool for creating identity" (403). This illuminates on Mandela 's rhetorical use with ethos. Mandela 's image and creditability is well known in South Africa, his past made this a little easier an his connection with the African citizens to be more than just a president but someone they can relate to. Mandela assures the people that he to has gone through the same suffering and long discrimination as well using "we" repetitively in his speech. "We understand it still that there is no easy road to freedom" (420). " We know it well that none of us acting alone can achieve success. We must therefore act together as a united people, for national reconciliation, for nation building, for the birth of a new world" (420). William Lutz, a professor of English at Rutgers University speaks on "Doubts About Doublespeak" which I believe also has a take on Mandela 's speech. Lutz 's articles refers to how doublespeak is a language which pretends to communicate but doesn 't (380). The fourth kind of doublespeak is inflated language, makes the ordinary seem
Nelson Mandela in his book, Long Walk to Freedom argues through the first five parts that a black individual must deal, coop, and grow through a society that is hindering their lives' with apartheid and suppression of their rightful land. Rolihlanla Mphakanyiswa or clan name, Madiba was born on July 18, 1918 in a simple village of Mvezo, which was not accustomed to the happenings of South Africa as a whole. His father was an respected man who led a good life, but lost it because of a dispute with the magistrate. While, his mother was a hard-working woman full of daily choirs. His childhood was full of playing games with fellow children and having fun. In school, Mandela was given his English name of Nelson. After his father's death, he moved to love with a regent, who was a well-off individual and owed Nelson's father for a previous favor. The next several years were full of schooling for Nelson. These schools opened Nelson's eyes to many things, which we will discuss later. He and the regent's son, Justice decided to travel to Johannesburg and see what work they could find. They left on their journey without the regent's permission, but eventually escaped his power and settled down in the town. In Johannesburg, Nelson settled down in a law firm as an assistant and went to University of South Africa and Witwatersrand University to further his law education. Witswatersrand University brought many new ideas to Nelson and awakened a spirit inside of him.