Margaret Thatcher's Eulogy Summary
On June 11, 2004, in the wake of President Ronald Reagan´s death, Margaret Thatcher, the former prime minister of Great Britain, delivers a melancholic yet powerful eulogy in his honor. Thatcher predominantly uses imagery and anaphora throughout her eulogy, commemorating Reagan and his successful presidency through the Cold War era. Her description of the former president presents Thatcher as an intellectual and complex woman who uses her personal knowledge to create a strong sense of respect for the president as well as capture the attention of her audience.
Throughout her eulogy Margaret addresses that even during the difficulties the cold war demanded from the president, he had still continued to see "many sides of truth" and “did not
shrink under the weight of these pressures." The words used, illustrates the overall struggle that the audience, especially those whose lives were primarily during this time, can recall and sympathize with. Thatcher brings into play the rhetorical device of metaphor intermingled with imagery in order to express Reagan’s diligent character and successful term as president. By saying Reagan aimed to “mend America’s wounded spirit, restore the strength of the free world, and to free the slaves of communism.” Thatcher manifests an image of the president as a man who was executively great.
To fully cement in her argument in favor of the president, thatcher uses her ethos as well as anaphora; constantly using the word “great” allows Thatcher to emphasise Regan’s authority and persona. She Also isolates herself somewhat front her audience by referring to Reagan as a friend as well as a close confidant. She refers to herself as his friend however she also refers to herself with her titular name ‘Prime Minister’ as a way to expand upon her Ethos and add to the authority and seriousness of the eulogy.
Finally, to fully present the overall accomplishments of the president, Thatcher chronologically summarizes Reagan’s achievements to simply remind world of his effectiveness as a president during such a taxing time. Using positive diction such as “to mend” and “to free” , Thatcher establishes Reagan as a man who took action as well as put his focus into healing the people America which was seemingly adopting the characteristics of “wounded spirits” and “slaves of communism”.
Overall, Thatcher uses her position as Prime Minister to express authority throughout her eulogy while also using emotional diction and complex syntax to highlight the successes of Reagan. Through amplifying the triumphs of Reagan throughout the eulogy and expressing to the audience the shared grief she feels along with the american people from the loss of not only a former president but a close friend Thatcher.
Throughout her eulogy Margaret addresses that even during the difficulties the cold war demanded from the president, he had still continued to see "many sides of truth" and “did not
shrink under the weight of these pressures." The words used, illustrates the overall struggle that the audience, especially those whose lives were primarily during this time, can recall and sympathize with. Thatcher brings into play the rhetorical device of metaphor intermingled with imagery in order to express Reagan’s diligent character and successful term as president. By saying Reagan aimed to “mend America’s wounded spirit, restore the strength of the free world, and to free the slaves of communism.” Thatcher manifests an image of the president as a man who was executively great.
To fully cement in her argument in favor of the president, thatcher uses her ethos as well as anaphora; constantly using the word “great” allows Thatcher to emphasise Regan’s authority and persona. She Also isolates herself somewhat front her audience by referring to Reagan as a friend as well as a close confidant. She refers to herself as his friend however she also refers to herself with her titular name ‘Prime Minister’ as a way to expand upon her Ethos and add to the authority and seriousness of the eulogy.
Finally, to fully present the overall accomplishments of the president, Thatcher chronologically summarizes Reagan’s achievements to simply remind world of his effectiveness as a president during such a taxing time. Using positive diction such as “to mend” and “to free” , Thatcher establishes Reagan as a man who took action as well as put his focus into healing the people America which was seemingly adopting the characteristics of “wounded spirits” and “slaves of communism”.
Overall, Thatcher uses her position as Prime Minister to express authority throughout her eulogy while also using emotional diction and complex syntax to highlight the successes of Reagan. Through amplifying the triumphs of Reagan throughout the eulogy and expressing to the audience the shared grief she feels along with the american people from the loss of not only a former president but a close friend Thatcher.