Obama Pericles Speech Analysis

Although The Funeral Oration of Pericles was written around 431 B.C.E. in Athens, Greece and Barack Obama’s State of the Union Address was written in 2013 in the United States of America, they address many similar topics. A few of these topics consist of civic duty, world leadership and dedication. These similar topics can be seen many times throughout the two speeches even though the speeches were made for different reasons. Pericles’s speech eulogized the Athenian soldiers who died in the war against Sparta in 431 B.C.E. and comforted their families. Whereas, Obama’s speech was written to address the state of the union and inform the citizens of the United States of tasks ahead to help improve the nation. Both speeches however, are still highly respected by many people today.
Both Obama and Pericles speak of civic duty in their speeches. Pericles speaks about how all of the citizens have helped to improve their city:
We ourselves assembled here today, who
Pericles states that Athens is an example to neighboring countries, “Our form of government does not enter into rivalry with the institutions of others. We do not copy our neighbors, but are an example to them” (Pericles 107). Obama speaks of America as a beacon to people in other countries, “You see, America must remain a beacon to all who seek freedom in this period of historical change…” In The Funeral Oration of Pericles, Pericles says that the entire Greek empire learns from Athens, “Athens is the school of Hellas…” (Pericles 109). Obama quotes a Burmese man in his speech who says, “There is justice and law in the United States. I want our country to be like that.” There are many quotes like these ones throughout both Pericles’s Funeral Oration and Obama’s State of the Union Address, showing that both political leaders were/are proud of their countries and saw/see them as examples to how other countries should