Rhetoric of Abraham Lincoln - Essay Example

RHETORIC OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN Module His prose has received immense admiration as well as impressionistic criticism. This has been confirmedby the categorical statements abound from all quarters. Supporters consider him a great stylist while critics claim that he has no style. Critics allude that he had difficulty in expressing himself while those who love his rhetoric call him the master of language. Abraham Lincoln’s success in rhetoric is derived not only from the words he used, but also from the era in which they were spoken. Slavery and succession were threatening human freedom as well as American union. Therefore, without the turmoil that existed at the time, there would not have been exigency for such rhetoric and action. The following essay is a research paper that builds its argument through comparative analysis of various sources of information on the rhetoric of Abraham Lincoln. Analysis of Lincoln’s rhetoric has led to varied opinions among scholars concerning his literary skills as well as his leadership qualities. Such scholars include Mark Neely, Jr., who is a Lincoln scholar and a Pulitzer Prize winning historian. The other is David Herbert Donald, who is a leading American historian of Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War. Neely views Lincoln as reactive and subject to changing events, while Donald sees Lincoln as purposeful and strategic. (1) (2) Donald asserted that Lincoln’s failure to respond and instead choosing to apply passivity was a political strategy. Donald Elaborated, “Repeatedly throughout the war, Lincoln’s passive policy worked politically. Because any action would offend somebody, he took as few actions as possible”3 According to Neely, the language that Lincoln uses in addressing Americans has attracted admiration, imitation wonder globally. His shaped his words in public letters, papers, and proclamations. This was meant to explain the purpose of the war and inspire commitment. His stylist success should not blind us to the rather limited nature of these communications. There was little awareness of propaganda in Lincoln or his era and only a rather limited one of shaping public opinion. The stylistic success of the rhetoric is limited to the past nature of such communications. There were no counteractive propaganda tendencies among the Americans that could distort or compromise his rhetoric. Propaganda and criticism spread in the twentieth century with the enhancement of the advertisement sector. His rhetoric prowess is evident in his first inaugural speech. During his first inaugural speech he introduced the theme through attempting to allay fears of the southern states. His words show that he had dreaded for this moment. According to Salem (2008), he went straight into assuring people that their property would not be snatched as earlier anticipated.4 The speech also indicated that he had no intention of abolishing the slave trade. This declaration portrays him as a leader concerned on the impact of interpretation of the law among the public over addressing the slaves’ peril. The first inaugural speech portrays him as a person concerned about changing the public opinion through making promises that would win their support. He had promised the states that they would be given the freedom to run their internal affairs which did not happen. A closer analysis of the speech confirms that he supported a unified nation and not a government made of independent states. The speech clearly brings out his secession fear and preservation of the unity government. However, he intended to uphold the government union without violence. His rhetoric goal was not only to express himself through the use of complicated grammar, but also capture the attention of the audience. Paying attention helps the audience to get an insight of the message being delivered. Lincoln denied of the existence of any differences between the Southerners and Northerners. 5This was meant to encourage people live in unity as equal residents of one nation. Some parts of the speech were poetic and occasionally diverted from the main issue of the political maneuverings to literary concerns. The first inaugural speech portrays his skills as a lawyer and crowd mover. He evidently desired to convince the audience rather than dazzle or bewilder them. His believe in every word that he spoke is evident in the last paragraph, “The mystic chords of memory, which stretch from every battle-field and patriot grave to every loved heart and hearthstone all over our broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union when again touched, as they surely will be by the better angels of our nature.”6 However, the inaugural speech does not possess the illumination and brilliance of his authoritative personality as did the Gettysburg address. Lincoln’s strategic plan included his way of building his sentences. He used some obvious devices like repetition for a variety of effect. Repetition was the spine of the Gettysburg Address, in which Lincoln redefined the Civil War by spreading the struggle for the rebirth of freedom and people’s power over the state. Contrary to the inaugural speech that was long overdue, the Gettysburg address contained 272 words.7 In the Gettysburg address, Lincoln’s experience in leadership came out contrary to the inaugural speech when he lacked experience. He encouraged peaceful coexistence between the North and South. The Gettysburg’s address was meant to honor the fallen soldiers after the war as well as inspire soldiers to continue fighting. The feature oration for the cemetery dedication at Gettysburg was Edward Everett’s oration although Lincoln’s speech has a more prominent significance in the American history. The introductory part of the address is a reminder on the basis on which the nation was founded; equality and liberty. The reminder offers a platform for the remaining part of the speech meant to convince the audience on the importance of honoring heroes and fighting for America. The argument on his rhetoric capabilities is enhanced by the comparative analysis of the public and private letters he drafted. Both the inaugural speech and the Gettysburg address portrays how various genres can interact, support and complicate a speaker’s overall intention. The Gettysburg address was widely acknowledged compared to the inaugural speech. This is because he directly instantiated a vision towards a healed, unified and steadfast America. The moment was perfect for delivering a message filled with hope and transformation towards the union’s victory. However, much of the address criticism is related to the opening line that critics claim that it was too abolitionist. Lincoln stated, “…dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”8 The address offers an understanding on the manner in which speakers respond to the same rhetorical situation with varying responses from the audience. Lincoln’s address took only three minutes to address compared to Everett’s address that was delivered in two hours. Yet, Lincoln’s speech has received more historical acclamation compared to that of Everett. Lincoln’s address included the epideictic genre that helped him solve the deliberative goal of re-uniting America. Lincoln’s letter to Albert G. Hodges is a public letter that explains his view towards constitutional responsibility. He also uses literary styles to indicate the reasons that led to the change in his inaugural position; not interfering with slavery. The letter confirms that he acted to change opinion with the change in events. He asserts, “I claim not to have controlled events, but confess plainly that events have controlled me.”9 The speech starts by letting the audience know his position. Lincoln’s letter to Horace Greely is a private letter written in response to the demands the editor had earlier made in the New York Tribune. The editorial claimed that Lincoln’s government lacked direction and resolve.10 Contrary to the changing opinions that his earlier letter to Hodges portrayed, the letter to Horace categorically stated his unchanging position towards preserving the union. Conclusion Abraham Lincoln understood that rhetoric was eminent in leadership and unifying the Southerners and the Northerners. His penchant for stories and well-thought speeches prevented him from miscommunication. This enables his audience to be insightful on what he intends to say. His rhetoric proves that he understood the difference between the leader and audience. He understood that the key to political success was oratory power. Lincoln’s rhetorical choices during his presidency are not responses to the views of specific audiences. They were efforts geared towards shaping the public opinion at large. His rhetoric suggests that he did not discriminate or favor any audience provided the message being delivered is for the benefit of the masses. His rhetoric goal was not only to express himself through the use of complicated grammar, but also capture the attention of the audience. Bibliography “Abraham Lincoln to Albert G. Hodges” 4 April 1864, Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, Ed. Roy Basler (Rutgers, N.J.: Rutgers UP, 1953), Volume 7, 282. “Abraham Lincoln to Horace Greeley” (22 August, 1862) Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, ed. Roy Basler (Rutgers, N.J.: Rutgers UP, 1953), Volume 7, 282. Donald David H, Lincoln Reconsidered (New York: Vintage, 1956); 57-81; 68, 69. Einhorn, Lois Abraham Lincoln the Orator, 1992, p. 59. Garry Wills, Lincoln at Gettysburg: The Words that Remade America (New York: Simon and Shuster, 1992), 175. Neely, Mark E., Jr. The Last Best Hope of Earth: Abraham Lincoln and the Promise of America. (Cambridge, Mass. Harvard UP, 1997), 150-151. Reid, "Newspaper Responses to the Gettysburg Addresses," September 12, 2008, p. 58. Salem, Effie Moore, An analysis of Abraham Lincolns first inaugural address, 2008. http://www.helium.com/items/998352-an-analysis-of-abraham-lincolns-first-inaugural-address Read More