I Will Speech From Courageous Movie Essay Example

Facing a detrimental loss triggers multiple reactions. Some facing loss stay stuck in that tragic event and never move forward, but others grieve their loss and use that experience to grow while persuading others to do the same. The latter is the case for Adam Mitchell in the movie Courageous with his noteworthy “I Will” speech. In this movie, Mitchell loses his daughter in a tragic car accident and after staying stagnant for too long, he realizes that he is not being the father he is supposed to be for his son, who is grieving the same loss as the rest of the family. As the movie closes, Mitchell makes this final speech to the fathers in the family’s church, encouraging the others to reflect on their own leadership as father figures. The exigence of the speech creates pathos in the audience, using devices such as anaphora, ethos, rhetorical questions, and hypophora to call his audience to action. His circumstance, along with the use of these devices, creates a passionate and moving tone, produces a need to respond in those present, and inspires families to be there for their children like he was not able to.

Before Mitchell’s speech takes place, he faces the horrible death of his daughter and it seems to him that almost all hope is lost because she is gone. He eventually comes to realize that, in his grief, he has not been the godly example that he is supposed to be for his son. He acknowledges his failure and resolves to do better, especially when he sees the effects an absent father has on the household in his workplace as a cop, and in his community. He resolves to admonish the audience and clarify the extreme importance of a father's leadership as head of the household to other fathers who might be making the same mistakes he did in his grief.

Mitchell begins his speech by immediately creating a sense of unity: “God desires for every father to courageously step up…” (Kendrick). Drawing in each father in the room, he now creates the feeling of a unified front and single identity that his intended audience can easily identify with. It encourages them to step up. In addition, he establishes his credibility as a father with an ethos appeal by saying “as a father” he knows that they are held responsible for their actions as role models for their kids (Kendrick). His position as the father in his family is unique to him which helps him relate to his specific audience -other fathers- better than someone else would because of his stance.

Next, he utilizes a metaphor to compare that of a failing father’s actions to falling asleep at the wheel of a car and waking up to eventually realize the mistakes that had been made (Kendrick). Mitchell applies this to call out fathers slacking on the job they have been given because one day they will realize that the lifestyle they prioritized has no lasting value or impact on the lives of their children. He hopes that this will “wake up” the fathers in the room and call them to act before it is too late to make amends for their poor choices. The danger of falling asleep at the wheel of a car is something easily understood and translates well into the danger of potentially harming one’s children by not being there for them. 

Moreover, he addresses the audience once again doubting their ability to respond in the correct manner. It is like a reversed use of aporia when he implies that “some men will hear this and … have no resolve to live it out” (Kendrick). With the assumption that his audience will not listen to his call to action, he makes his point exponentially more appealing. People will almost always try to prove someone wrong when they feel that they are underestimated. Hearing that it is not expected of them to be adequate fathers, and from someone they consider an example to follow, causes them to want to straighten up and make sure that this is not them. Mitchell takes this and then increases the idea of a single identity among the audience by saying “our”, “us”, and “we” (Kendrick). After nurturing the feeling of unity he created with the audience, Mitchell gives them another cause to invest in: those who do not have a father figure to learn from in their own homes. He sees the possible results of this situation all the time, if not daily. He also knows that those in the audience see the same and if they do not want that for their children, then they need to step it up. In this aspect of his speech he effectively shows his failings as a father, their shortcomings, and those of the others before them. Their new cause is to not only change the pattern of failing father figures in their own homes, but to help those in their own backyard.

Towards the last quarter of Mitchell’s speech, he uses diction with a tone of finality. He says “In my home, the decision has already been made” (Kendrick). He leads by example in showing that he means what he is conveying to them. He practices what he preaches. If he were to try and tell these people how to run their families and then shirk his own responsibilities, his words would immediately lose all power and meaning they would have had. Mitchell then uses anaphora and hypophora to demonstrate what his goal looks like. The repetition of the phrases “you don’t have to ask…” and “I will” drive home the purpose of his speech (Kendrick). While he is encouraging others to follow his pursuit, he is first and foremost saying that no matter what they decide to do in response, he is already working towards his goal. The audience does not have an obligation to respond to his call to action because he will do it, and continue to do it, regardless of the reception of his speech. 

The transition into hypophora happens directly after the section of anaphora and switches between saying “You don’t have to ask…” to “Who will…” to reemphasize that he is asking them to respond as well and answering his own question with “I will” (Kendrick). He even interjects his mantra of hypophora with an addition to the repeated answer. He says “I am their father. I will” (Kendrick). He acknowledges his duty and expands the meaning of the word father from being a biological fact to a more emotional and moral duty of responsibility as a mentor. It carries the responsibility from being a dad to being a father. Any man can be a dad, but not every dad is a father. He finalizes his speech with rhetorical questions and anaphora/parallel structure with building intensity that pushes his audience towards action: “So where are you men of courage? Where are you, fathers who fear the Lord? It’s time to rise up and answer the call…  to say I will. I will. I will!” (Kendrick). The final words the audience hears are full of growing enthusiasm and urgent diction, and they serve the purpose of getting them excited for what they are going to do -or what they are hopefully going to do.

As it has been demonstrated, Adam Mitchell’s use of anaphora, ethos, rhetorical questions, and hypophora, in addition to the knowledge of his situation gives him a unique perspective on being a father and how he conveys this to his audience. His circumstances give him the pathway to encourage other fathers to change the way they are living for their children and families before it is too late.