Monday, October 17, 2011
Text Analysis: Inaugural Address, Franklin D. Roosevelt, March 1933
In Franklin Roosevelt's Inaugural Address, he argues that the poor economic state of the nation can be improved using the morals of the constitution and the congregation of citizens. He states that citizens cannot just take, but also have to give to benefit everyone. One of the primary ways of national healing according to Roosevelt is to have as many jobs and people working as possible. Although he does not apply pathos to his persuasion, his argument is still convincing because he reasons that this is everybody's problem, and he conveys himself as an authoritative figure. Just by analyzing Roosevelt's grammar use alone, it is obvious that he implies that the national problem is an issue that includes all citizens. A perfect example of this is when Roosevelt explains that the solution cannot be found "merely by talking about it. We must act and act quickly." His logical use of "we" not only makes the issue relevant and engages the audience, but also hints a feeling of teamwork and urgency. Another example of conveying urgency is shown when Roosevelt stated "I am prepared under my constitutional duty to recommend the measures that a stricken nation in the midst of a stricken world may require". This quote is persuading and inspiring on many levels. First of all, his "constitutional duty" gives him authority, and his statement "I am prepared" not only gives audience hope, but shows Roosevelt's confidence in his actions. The urgency is found when Roosevelt describes "the midst of a stricken world", and the conclusion the audience could come to is that without immediate action, the world and it's people are doomed. The only disappointing factor in this speech is Roosevelt's lack of emotional relevance and argument. However, sentences that have multiple methods of persuasion can be found throughout the speech, and is it that reason that I find this speech really inspiring and convincing. This speech is important to history because it signals the same economic problems that we have today and that we are likely to repeat in the future. The speech provides insightful ways of rebuilding a broken economy, and represents the beginning of the long process of economic stabilization.
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I agree with much of what you say about Roosevelt and his inaugural address. You mention that he makes the problem seem like one that concerns everyone, which I found too when Roosevelt said “we face our common difficulties.” He uses the word “we” to talk about the problems, implying that everyone is one group and that he is a part of it. The problems the country faces is not just a concern for those with little money, but for every citizen living in the United States. They only time Roosevelt uses the word “they” is when he talks about the “unscrupulous money changers.” He singles these people out and even makes them seem inhuman when he says they are “rejected by the hearts and minds of men,” implying that they themselves are not men but something other. By singling the “money changers” out, he makes it seem like it is a bad thing to have so much wealth. He even says “happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement.” This sentence introduces the next point in his address: the necessity of the creation of jobs, both to lower the unemployment rate and improve the country by having work done where it wasn’t before.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with you when you say that Roosevelt does not use pathos in his speech. Though the poor state of the nation was one that could have evoked pity in order to guilt people into changing their ways, Roosevelt doesn’t use this. Instead, he groups everyone together and says “we can not merely take but we must give as well; that if we are to go forward, we must… sacrifice for the good of a common discipline.” He speaks strongly about the need for change and what he plans to do to bring about this change, but he never says anything that could make someone feel bad for those having trouble.
I agree with you on many points made, especially the teamwork inferred with using "we". It seems to me that Roosevelt was trying to let everybody know they are all in it together and I think he communicated that effectively. Roosevelt also uses this strategy (of getting everybody on a "team") in another way. Many people have lost their jobs, farms, and houses, but by saying letting them know they are all together, he is reassuring them. He also lets everybody know that he is dedicated to fixing the problem and helping people keep their homes. If you were about to lose your farm or home and somebody told you that they would help you to keep it, you would probably want to vote for them. This is one way Roosevelt's speech was convincing. Although much of the speech is about the bad and Roosevelt trying to comfort the people, he also takes an optimistic approach when he says "Compared with the perils which our forefathers conquered because they believed and were not afraid, we have still much to be thankful for." This basically says to the people that we (the United States) have been in bad situations before but overcame and it is reassuring to the people, in essence saying that we can overcome this and we have not yet lost everything; we still have hope. I also agree with you, Alex on one of your last points saying that Roosevelt left out a lot of emotion. He did present the people a good speech but was indeed lacking in emotion to connect with the people. He gave plenty of good facts and evidence, eventually leading to hope for the future but did not really relate to the people. I also felt it was a good speech but "cold" emotionally.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with most of what you say. But I disagree with you where you say there was lack of emotion. I listened and read the speech, and listening to his voice say those words come out of his mouth help show the passion that he as he was speaking to the American people. He made his points strong and was stern when talking. He showed passion and emotion when he spoke, several times throughout the speech, I heard the crowd applaud him.
ReplyDeleteIt is often hard to to tell the emotions of person giving a speech if all we have is the text, so that is why I wanted to see if I could find the audio for it. It is much easier to tell the emotions of person when you can audibly here their voice. It is much harder to do that when simply reading a text. You might want to listen to the audio if you haven't already. It may change your perspective on the address.
I do agree with you though. Roosevelt laid out the facts and was clear on his intentions as president of the United States. Also, by looking at his future you can tell that people by electing him three more times as president. Unfortunately he died during his fourth term, but the legend he left behind was incredible and this first inaugural address is only the beginning for him.
I agree with you as well that Roosevelt made it a "we" instead of an "I". I think that this would help people feel important by being a solution to the problem. From reading the speech he may not seem very emotional but listening to the way that he gives the speech is where you hear the emotion. This was a very good speech and one that included everyone and wasn't just a one sided speech. When Roosevelt says "Yet our distress come from no failure of substance. We are stricken by no plague of locusts. compared with the perils which our forefathers conquered because they believed..." To me that was very powerful because what generations have endured before ours were much harder but they got through it and made it just a little easier for the next generation. His speak gives a sense of hope to the people. He was an incredible man.
ReplyDeleteI liked how President Franklin Roosevelt believed that the government should intervene to protect its citizens from economic hardships. Roosevelt cared for his people and he was aware of the problems they were currently facing. In his speech he mentioned, “Our greatest primary task is to put people to work.” Roosevelt wanted people to have jobs so they could support families. He also felt compassion for the poor. He proclaimed, “To these unfortunate citizens aid must be extended by governments, not as a matter of charity but as a matter of social duty… [no one should go] unfed, unclothed, or unsheltered.” He even used the Temporary Emergency relief Administration to provide $20 million in aid for the poor. I agree with you when you said that he implies that the national problem is an issue that includes all citizens. Several times throughout his speech, Franklin uses the terms “we” and “our duty” to make his point. He saw his future for the country and he explained what he wanted to do. I do believe that president Roosevelt felt that the government and the people should work together to come out of the crisis that they were in. Since he was elected four times I am sure that the people had faith in him and trusted him to bring a change.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Alex! I found Roosevelts speech very convincing as well. Roosevelt promised from the very beggining, even before being president to get people out of trouble and put people first. In his speech he indeed made it feel like for there to be change to the problems, everyone had to pitch in and everyone was in this together. "In such a spirit on my part and on yours we face our common difficulties" He let everyone know that its everybodies problem and really emphesizes on words like we, and our. "We may now restore that temple to the ancient truths." So i agree with you when you say you find that very persuasive, i think it made the people feel like they were in it together, and also probebly made them feel like they were cared for, and their opinion and effort matters. I also agree when you say Roosevelt was very prepared for his actions,not only by saying he was prepared but by also listing out the problems they were facing, and saying how they would tackle them. An example of that is when he says "in our progress toward a resumption of work we require two safeguards against a return of the evils of the old order; there must be a strict supervision of all banking and credits and investments; there must be an end to speculation with other people's money, and there must be provision for an adequate but sound currency". I could go either way when you say he didnt put much emotion. Because one, i cant really tell since i dont actually see him making the speech,and all i see is the text, but also i feel like he showed emotion and connection by again using words such as "we" and "our". Showing he cares.
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