Here, the speakers or writers effort is focused on the rational validity of the argument proposed. In this difficult day, in this difficult time for the United States, it's perhaps well to ask what kind of a nation we are and what direction we want to move in. Martin Luther King Jr. was an important figure in gaining civil rights throughout the 1960s and hes very deserving of that title as seen in both his I Have a Dream speech and his Letter from Birmingham Jail letter. And we cant forget joy and laughter. Robert Kennedy Speech Ethos Pathos Logos 373 Words2 Pages Robert Kennedy, a candidate for president in 1968, delivers a powerful speech on the evening of the death of the civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Socrates is a man. Pathos is a very effective way to bring the audience over to your own perspective, but you have to be keenly aware of 1) the kind emotion you want to elicit, and 2) what truth youre going to draw on to trigger that emotion. By suggesting the conclusion with logic, rather than stating it outright, the audience will be more accepting of your point. Lyndon B Johnson, a white persistent president speaks out to the lawmakers using compassionate encouraging appeals about voting for Civil Rights, in order to unify the nation to build a new community. Associated with these general topics are commonplaces (topos is Greek for a place). Pathos uses emotion to trigger people to take action. Heres how Leith describes logos, the next link in the chain: If ethos is the ground on which your argument stands, logos is what drives it forward: it is the stuff of your arguments, the way one point proceeds to another, as if to show that the conclusion to which you are aiming is not only the right one, but so necessary and reasonable as to be more or less the only one. Then, build a narrative to encapsulate that truthyou cant simply plop the truth on a platter. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. Pathos:Roberts F. Kennedy showed pathos when he referred to everyone as we. And as for the companys ethosthe consumers dont necessarily care about the brands values or reputation. Pathos is the only way to sell the product. The first kind depends on the personal character of the speaker; the second on putting the audience into a certain frame of mind; the third on the proof, provided by the words of the speech itself. Here is how to establish ethos in a speech. We live in a nation that is deeply divided, and I am a Black woman speaking at the Democratic Convention. He makes a clear case, explaining how irresponsibility was the direct cause of the loss of millions of jobs and increase in debt nationwide. Below are some examples of pathos in everyday life, movies, and ads. The whole speech oozes with ethos, as Quint tells the story of his experience as a sailor in WWII to explain his vendetta against man-eating sharks: You know that was the time I was most frightened. Of course, in order to be effective, the speaker or writer doesnt necessarily have to have these virtues, just appear to. An iPhone commercial shows the smartphone's different features that make it stand out from the rest. Equally as important, dont mention the factors that will destroy your credibility and are unrelated to the topic at hand. By dedicating his life to love and to justice between fellow human beings, MLK greatly improved the life of of many people. That is, if you demonstrated logos, you should not need either ethos or pathos. He doesnt separate himself, he considers himself an equal to his audience as a more friendly and inviting way to speak. Simply put, they will feel more confident in the overall reasoning if they do the work themselves. Albus Dumbledor used ethos in the movie The Goblet of Fire when he went against the Ministry of Magic to tell his students how Cedric Diggory died. Think of this as the logic behind your argument. Although King was arrested for a nonviolent protest, he still found a way to justify his actions with the use of logos and pathos. The speaker or writer uses words to manipulate people into feeling empathy, desire, anger, joyvirtually any emotion. Logos Behind Robert Kennedy's Speech The main logical appeal occurs when Robert Kennedy states that rather than being angry or riotous due to King's untimely death, the audience should embrace King's values of nonviolence and a cooperative, accepting United States. When used together, they form a solid argument that can convince anyone of its gist. Furthermore his speech did not, By using the rhetorical features, MLKs speech reached a different level of effectiveness for his audience. But in the case of an island, or of a country partly surrounded by barriers, into which new and better-adapted forms could not freely enter, we should then have places in the economy of nature that would assuredly be better filled up if some of the original inhabitants were in some manner modified; for, had the area been open to immigration, these same places would have been seized on by intruders. Aristotle was the first to come up with them and wrote these concepts in his book, Rhetoric. That said, how the audience receives it is another topic entirelydry facts can come across stilted if not cushioned by the speakers charisma. Make sure your audience knows who you are, and why they should trust your voice. Socrates is a man. Pathos is the act of evoking emotions in the audience or readers to make your point. He also relates to MLK gain by saying, what we need in the United States is not violence and lawlessness, but is love, and wisdom, and compassion. RFK wants people to act with peace, and love. President Kennedy starts out first by directly . Kennedys purpose is to inform the audience of Martin Luther King Juniors assassination and to convey the importance of coming together as a nation in order to get through the tragedy. RFK used various rhetorical devices to calm down and control the population of Indianapolis. His incredible public speaking skills and ability to properly get his message across can clearly be scene throughout the speech. Logos, along with ethos and pathos, is one of the three "modes of persuasion" in rhetoric (the art of effective speaking or writing). As a member of PrimeStudyGuides.com, you get access to all of the content. In a commercial, youd see 4 out of 5 dentists recommending a particular toothpaste. His logic is that its often risky to combine debt with personal relationships, which can result in the loss of both money and friends. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Focus on what will really build up your character in the eyes of the audience and establish your authority. Robert Kennedy: MLK Assassination Speech. It pulls at the readers heartstrings, connects them to the characters, and makes them want something similar. 1. MLK has written many, many speeches and letters in favor of the Civil Rights movement in America, the most famous of them being his legendary I Have a Dream Speech and the monumental Letter from Birmingham Jail. Because of the way we use the word pathos in the modern world, you may be thinking of something dramatic and sad. It is used in ads and videos to persuade people to follow a call to action. As a civil right mover he gave this great speech to all Americans (black and white) so that he could give off the idea of equality on the same level. He explained how the country has gone through hard times and has always recovered and how there will be more hard, RFK used various rhetorical devices to calm down and control the population of Indianapolis. Ethos is sometimes mistakenly defined as the speakers appeal to the audiences ethics, but, in fact, it has more to do with the speakers own values or character. To use logos most effectively, temper it with common speech that everyone can understand. Its the equivalent of a tactical retreat, or of the judo fighter using an opponents momentum against him. To move forward from this time, they need to get past this. Therefore, Socrates is mortal. In order to use this type of logic effectively, you should be keenly aware of the accepted premises shared with your audience. Pathos often appears in the best and most moving political speeches, as in Martin Luther King Jr.s famous I have a dream speech: There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights: 'When will you be satisfied?' RFK uses rhetorical appeals to convey MLKs impact. Robert Kennedys speech was given during a campaign rally in 1968, he broke the news to a crowd of supporters that MLK had been killed. Your logical argument will be that much more persuasive if it's wrapped up with a good dose of emotion. It was filmed in the oval office and broadcast on national radio and television. For this reason, there are three modes of persuasion. Ethos is Greek for character, "credibility," or "authority." It is more than obvious that MLK tends to tug at the heartstrings of his listeners with his emotionally charged language essential to his success. Ethos are used in these speeches to catch their attention. As a leader of his people, King took the stand to take radical measures to overcome the false promises of the sovereign government that had been addressing the issues of racial segregation through unimplemented transparent laws that did nothing to change the grim realities of the society. The more relatable and trustworthy you are, the more effective your speech will be. How? Ethos is the act of appealing to the speakers or writers authority as a means of persuasion. This appeals to people because we like comfort, right? That's how brands convince viewers to buy their products by backing them up with credible people. President John F. Kennedy, known for his diligence and persuasion, held a news conference about the hikes in steel prices. Delight is an end, as well as a means. For instance, a politician may establish rapport by mentioning her up-by-the-bootstraps childhood (ethos), speak about the unifying power of the countrys citizens (pathos), and then go on to explain how her election will bring about these ideals in practicality (logos). This evidence, revealing MLKs use of pathos, was used to reach out to the emotional citizens who have either experienced or watched police brutality. An argument with logos should be able to stand up by itself. It seems Kennedy really knew what he was doing when he gave this speech. The discrimination in the area even had political leaders affected, therefore many of those political leaders during that time attempted to put an end to the several agonizing events going on. Actually, though you may not be aware, you use ethos quite often already. During his speech he connected with his audience. Were Syrus Partners.We buy amazing businesses. Be as specific and concrete as possible, with examples, and stress the most important points. During his speech he connected with his audience. This use of logos and ethos showed the audience how RFK could really understand how this affected them, because he had already experienced it. It happens. Logos is the act of appealing to the logic of the audience or readers. Kennedy recognizes his audience as Americans, but especially. Some key aspects of a great speech, or writing, is using proper grammar, and of course the literary devices Ethos, Logos, and Pathos. He presented the first inaugural address on Monday, March 4, 1861. A foundation of trust is built upon this rapport. For the speaker to be seen as credible, they have to employ ethos into their speech. If you can create something with ethos, logos, and pathos peppered throughout, and tie it all into your audiences belief system, you will have a very strong argument. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. It turns what is often necessity to advantage, because it makes you look honest and scrupulous, takes the wind out of your opponents sails, and allows you to shift the emphasis of the argument in a way finally favorable to you. RFK again uses repetition of the word beyond to create emphasis. In the meantime check outour post on Wartime Rhetoric for some inspiration. A huge crowd gathered to listen to his powerful speech which helped to inspire change. Lastly he shows ethos by using authority in his speech by using quotes from two very famous documents. The key to any effective speech is a thoughtful mix of ethos, logos, and pathos based on the designated audience. Ethos can also be thought of as the role of the writer in the argument, and how credible his/her argument is. John F. Kennedy used diction as well as logos and ethos to make listeners believe that his argument is right and they should take his side. In the use of commonplaces, you can see where logos and ethos intersect. He said: "I think, therefore, you have the right to know exactly how he died. RFK includes a quote from the poet Aeschylus In our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart until, in our despair, against our will comes wisdom through the awful grace of God(24-30). Robert F. Kennedy, running for president at the time, was to give a campaign speech that day in Indiana. If youre a car salesman trying to convince a customer, you can mention youve been in the business for 40 years and know what youre talking about. Turbulent Times 1967 - Deadly race riots in Newark and Detroit Vietnam War escalation and protests/riots (Kent State shootings - (1970) 4. During his speech, Robert F. Kennedy spoke with compassionand care. In Shakespeares Hamlet, Polonius counsels his son Laertes to never give money to friends. As President Kennedy enters office he gives an speech on the celebration of freedom; symbolizing an end, as well as a beginning of a new nation. The next time youre posting on social media, or give a presentation in the office, try using ethos. RFK doesnt let MLKs visions and ideologies die with him. It was filmed in the oval office and broadcast on national radio and television. King argues that all people are created equal and directly challenged the outdated and abhorrent views that upheld the false flag of racial superiority among White Americans. Pathos can trigger any intended emotion in people, such as sympathy, pity, and empathy. He doesn't separate himself, he considers himself an equal to his audience as a more friendly and inviting way to speak. The best speeches are not the ones that are informational, its the ones that tug at our heartstrings. Pathos elicits emotions in the audience. They are, in digested form, the appeal to common sense. You get nowhere appealing to commonplaces alien to your audience. Invention is doing your homework: thinking up in advance exactly what arguments can be made both for and against a given proposition, selecting the best on your own side, and finding counterarguments to those on the other.