The movement of people has changed history, and persuasion must be preceded by massive movement. Aristotle proposed a model of persuasion, known as “Aristotle’s Rhetoric.” Logos, Ethos, and Pathos are three pillars of his persuasion. Logos is a persuasive method that relies on definitions, comparisons, testimonies, or statistics. It plays a similar role to “logic.” Ethos is given its life from credibility. Credibility is the quality of being trusted and believed in. It could be derived from a particular status or reputation. Pathos appeals to the audience’s emotions. Pathos sometimes becomes the most powerful weapon to move the crowd. While considering Aristotle’s idea, let’s look at some great historical speeches.
“I Have a Dream” by Martin Luther King Jr will be the most famous speech without disagreement. He repeatedly used phrases such as “one hundred years later”, “I have a dream”, “With this faith” and “Let freedom ring” to emphasize his argument. Repeated phrases remain in people’s minds and make them remember the main claim of the speech. Also, by providing rhythm, repetition makes messages clear and unified. We can also find the part where pathos has been used. He mentioned his four little children, as well as boys in Alabama, to make people sympathize. The speech was so successful that it brought a practical end to racism and segregation. It was a moment of big progress for universal rights.
The Gettysburg Address, by Abraham Lincoln, is also one of the most famous speeches. It starts with “Four score and seven years ago…” This well-known phrase has been deformed and applied to “I Have a Dream”: “Five score years ago.” Also, many people recognize the line “…that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” The purpose of the Gettysburg Address was to motivate soldiers during the American Civil War. Abraham Lincoln wisely used his status and added credibility to his address. This is the way that ethos works. These devices fostered people’s emotions and let them go forward with no doubt.
In 2018, there was a vicious shooting in Parkland, Florida. “March for Our Lives” by Emma Gonzalez which is famous for its slogan “Fight for your lives before it’s someone else’s job” condemned the pervasive abuse of guns in US society. The repeated phrase “Six minutes and about 20 seconds” brought the seriousness closer to people. This speech uses strategic silence for six minutes and 20 seconds during which the audience can commemorate victims, recall the cruelness, and consider the reason for the tragedy during a deliberate pause. Furthermore, the speech includes the number of the victims, the name of the gun that was used, and the exact names of the victims. These logos elements make people reflect upon the reality in an exact manner.
Great speeches have changed the world; persuading people precedes progress. You may face a turning point in which you must encourage people to achieve your goals in life. Use your credibility, reputation, emotion, as well as your own story, to make it as the great leaders did. For sure, it should be an argument based upon true faith. If you belong to a fascinating argument, gather more colleagues with the skill of persuasion. These historical speeches will be your guide with pleasure.
