In-Depth Analysis: Rhetorical Devices in Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

This essay provides an analysis of Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, delivered during the American Civil War at the dedication of Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The speech aimed to reiterate the principle of human equality set by the Declaration of Independence and to highlight the civil war's significance beyond a mere struggle for the Union. The analysis examines Lincoln's use of eye contact and open body language to engage the audience, portraying confidence and dignity. The essay identifies the speech's strengths, such as its focus on liberty and evocation of the Battle of Gettysburg, while noting its brevity as a potential weakness. It also explores the use of ethos, pathos, and logos as rhetorical proofs, emphasizing the emotional appeal to connect with the audience and inspire action towards equality and freedom. The essay concludes that the Gettysburg Address was a well-organized and impactful speech that continues to resonate due to its powerful message and skillful delivery.

Gettysburg Address was delivered by Abraham Lincoln at the time of the American
Civil War and it was dedicated to Soldiers National Cemetary at Pennsylvania at the
afternoon of November 19, 1863. It was delivered four and half months after the Confederacy
was defeated by the Union Armies in the Battle of Gettysburg. Abraham Lincoln gave this
speech so that he could reiterate the principle pertaining to human equality that was set by the
Declaration of Independence (Americanrhetoric.com). Abraham Lincoln thought that the
civil war was not merely a struggle pertaining to the Union but it was fought for the cause of
human inequality. According to Lincoln, this speech would prove to be instrumental in in
bringing forth freedom for the people and it would help in bringing about equality for the
citizens. The speech was given to live audience that was formed by representatives of
committee for Consecration of National Cemetary at that of Gettysburg. There were around
15,000 people who had gathered and it comprised of national along with international
audience. The New York Times article revealed that the speech was met by applause during
the course of the speech (Murray, pp 238). There was a long applause at the end of the
speech that shows that the speech was received well by the audience.

The speaker Abraham Lincoln has made use of eye contact for persuading the
audience. It is important to move the people so that they will be able to understand the value
of war and the freedom that it can bring about. The making of eye contact can help in
encouraging the people that can help in making the speech more effective. The open body
pose adopted by Abraham Lincoln portrayed a picture of dignity and poise. It can help in
making the people feel that their welfare will be addressed and they would be able to live a
life of more dignity if certain changes are brought about in the current state of the country.
The speaker was leaning his body in the forward direction that shows that he was eager to
work for the betterment of life of the people. The delivery style was greatly effective as it
brought about a lot of applause for the audience. The speaker projects a persona who is
confident and who is willing to give his life for serving the people. The manner of his
speaking exudes poise and confidence that can help in providing a positive picture for the
people.

The strengths of the speech lie in the fact that it talked about the ideal state of the
nation which was conceived in the form of liberty that can help in providing hope for the
people. It helped the people in reminiscing about their past glorious state that can help them
in restoring the ideal time. The strength of the speech is on account of the fact that the field
was referred to that helped in evoking memories of the Battle of Gettysburg that was fought
at the time of the American Civil War (Fleming, pp 187). The speech helped in endowing
respect on the Union soldiers and honour them. The weakness of the speech was owing to the
fact that it was short (2 minutes) and a longer speech could have helped in engaging the
audience even more. The speech was well organized and the starting focussed on the glorious
nation of the country. The current situation prevailing in the country has then been brought
out with the help of the Gettysburg Speech of Abraham Lincoln. The speech then
communicates to the people that it is the responsibility of the people to understand the
sacrifices for liberty that have been done by people before (Charney, pp 318). The people
should always remember that and work along the lines that can help in ensuring equality and
freedom for the people.

The rhetorical proofs that have been used in the course of the speech of Abraham
Lincoln are that of ethos, pathos along with logos. Abraham Lincoln stated the fact that
slavery should be abolished and he proposed compensation emancipation in the early years
pertaining to his presidency. He had been able to create a distinct position of himself and on
the basis of this authority he appealed to the people who had assembled at the place. The
respect that he had built among the people can move people and make the common people
follow his words. Pathos have been brought out in the speech of Abraham Lincoln owing to
the fact that he appealed to the emotions of the audience as he talked about the glorious past
of America. He mentioned how their forefathers had fought for the sake of preserving the
freedom of the people (Kibler, Aída Walqui, and George, pp 10). Abraham Lincoln pointed
out in the course of the speech that it is the responsibility of those who are living to honour
the dead by taking recourse to suitable actions that can help in uplifting the condition of the
country. Logos was utilised by Abraham Lincoln in his speech because he appealed to the
sense of logic of the people. He stated that since in the past wars have been waged in order to
bring freedom for the people so the common people should continue to strive hard to uphold
freedom in the society. Among the rhetorical proofs, the one that has been used most in the
course of the speech pertains to pathos as emotion have been taken recourse to stir the deep
emotions among the people.

References:
Americanrhetoric.com. "Online Speech Bank - Index Of Speeches A-F - Transcripts Audio
Video." Americanrhetoric.com. N.p., 2018. Web. 12 July 2018.
Charney, Davida. "The Short and the Long of It: Rhetorical Amplitude at
Gettysburg." Rhetoric & Public Affairs 21.2 (2018): 317-342.
Fleming, Maelee. "Lincoln the Profiler: Combining a Poet’s Voice and a Rhetorician’s
Argument to Unite a Nation and Strive for Progress." The Student Researcher: A Phi Alpha
Theta Publication 2.1 (2017): 4.
Kibler, Amanda K., Aída Walqui, and George C. Bunch. "Transformational opportunities:
Language and literacy instruction for English language learners in the Common Core era in
the United States." TESOL Journal 6.1 (2015): 9-35.
Murray, Jennifer M. "The Long Shadow of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address by Jared Peatman,
and: Across the Bloody Chasm: The Culture of Commemoration among Civil War Veterans
by M. Keith Harris." The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography 140.2 (2016):
238-240.