Rhetorical Analysis Of Le Guin's Commencement Speech

Commencement for Women’s Rights On May 22, 1983, Ursula K. Le Guin delivered a commencement speech to the graduating class of Mills College in Oakland, California, the first women’s college west of the Rocky Mountains (Graveline). Le Guin took an unusual approach to this commencement speech, focusing her words on the controversial topic of gender equality. This speech not only empowered the women of her graduating class, but also highlighted the extreme differences in the qualities of women compared to men with her use of rhetorical appeals and rhetorical devices. The three appeals used by Le Guin in this speech, Logos, Ethos, and Pathos, helped to empower the women of her graduating class. Although Le Guin did not use a balance of the rhetorical appeals, she used them correctly for the purpose of her speech. Le Guin realized who her audience was; thus appealing to their emotions while still using logic. The introduction of this speech provided the necessary reputation to
“Not in the sky full of orbiting spy-eyes and weaponry, but in the earth we have looked down upon. Not from above, but from below. Not in the light that blinds, but in the dark that nourishes, where human beings grow human souls,” as spoken by Le Guin reminded the audience that the future is in their own hands.
Le Guin effectively empowered her audience to think and speak for themselves. The use of rhetorical appeals and devices was expertly placed to convey her opinions and key points. The audience was effectively caught listening to the repetition of key points while feeling the emotion from the pathos used. Logos and Ethos were also used to create a reliable reputation for Le Guin. Le Guin achieved the goal of her speech thanks to her use of key rhetorical devices and appeals. This speech will continue to be read and studied due to Le Guin’s brilliant use of rhetorical devices and