Rhetorical Analysis Of Obama's Inaugural Address

On Tuesday January 20, 2009, President Barack Obama announced his Inaugural address outside the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., as the forty-fourth president of the United States of America. Obama's Inauguration speech was a noteworthy moment that was observed not only by three million people attending the event, but also by people around the world. The structure of the speech starts with Obama speaking about American hardships and the important challenges they face, the wars that Americans are involved in, how they have been affected by the economic crises, and also their recovery from 9/11. Presidents for many years have been using rhetoric to show their objectives and to summarize their beliefs on extensive issues to the people. Obama used numerous forms of rhetoric and rhetorical tools throughout his inauguration speech to help the viewer's connect with Obama. Obama called upon to the viewer's emotions and made logical points, at the same time preserving his own trustworthiness. Many official analysts propose that his inauguration speech was unsuccessful in inspiring the American people, in my opinion, President Obama use of rhetoric came without interruptions to model a complete and persuasive speech. Obama shows credibility in many ways. He is the first baby boom presidency and more notably, the
He uses narrative to express how former generations of Americans “faced down fascism and communism…with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions” (Obama). By explaining the hard work and tribulations, as well as the accomplishments of America’s founders, Obama awakens a healthy spirit of patriotism and feeling of pride. Further, Obama makes use of haunting imagery such as, “the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages” (Obama), to full advantage while glorifying the core American values as honor and love of