Obama's Inauguration Speech

Well, the last speech was longer than the previous one and shorter than the first one.

While it can be said that every one of the speeches was equally important, there is no doubt that this speech precedes over the previous two, simply because this was the Inauguration speech. Obama's style of delivering the speech remained unchanged, and he paused and continued in the same manner as he did with the previous two speeches. The sentences were structured similarly, the rhetorical devices were used with efficiency, and while there was far less applause during this speech, there was immense respect for Obama.

The similarities lie in the rhetorical devices used during the speech. Once again, repetition dominates over the other devices. It was used frequently, and it was used to a very good effect. The similarity also lies in the fact that all three of Obama's speeches include the audience in them. Never once did Obama exclude the audience from his address.

I found that the difference between the Inauguration Speech and the previous two speeches came with his address to the current challenges that the United States of America faces. The speech included many instances where it would talk about the floundering economy and the hardship of families across the nation. It also included the shortage of jobs and the dilemma of the environment. Once again, he talked about the American military and acknowledged the sacrifices made by the soldiers and their families. The Inauguration Speech also included more facts and statistics than the previous two speeches.

I also noted that Obama put a heavy emphasis on uniting his country and facing the challenges together. He addressed numerous faiths that are worshiped in America; he mentioned the American ancestors who worked together to build a better country; he noted the laborers and the people who toiled because they envisioned a better nation for generations to come. During this speech, he also mentioned the "spirit" very frequently, something that was mentioned with less frequency in the previous two speeches. I may not speak for everyone, but I found it hard to paint a clear picture in my head of what Obama meant when he said "The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation." But I realize the fact that using such abstract phrases is a great tool for speeches as it captivates the audience and gets them behind the orator.

While there may be minuscule flaws, it is very clear that every speech studied were written and delivered with utmost precision and were very effective.


Sahil