Rhetorical Analysis of John F. Kennedy's Presidential Inaugural Speech Essay Example

During the time of “John F. Kennedy's Presidential Inaugural Speech of 1961” America is experiencing despair after years of war. One in particular is the present cold war that has put a sense of fear in American citizens' eyes. America is drained and needs uplifting and motivation to go on with life. Kennedy does just that in his inaugural speech. He points out especially that although America has suffered such tragedy and loss that it is now time to go forth with life and prosper. Kennedy emphasizes the ideals of providing peace and liberty for the people of America with parallelism. His reassuring tone and sense of optimism portrays a call to action for American citizens. Lastly, Kennedy uses antithesis to express to his audience that the future of America is in the hands of American citizens: “For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life” (Kennedy).

In the beginning of Kennedy's speech he expresses a view of providing peace and liberty to America. Kennedy portrays this by using the rhetorical device parallelism to compare the past to an optimistic future: “we observe today not a victory of the party, but a celebration of freedom--symbolizing an end, as well as a beginning--signifying renewal, as well as change” (Kennedy). Seen here Kennedy is conveying a message of transformation for America. Kennedy does this by using parallelism to demonstrate that although an end is here there is also a new beginning. He also communicates that with America falling back to its traditional values that there must also be change within some of those American values. Another equally important area where Kennedy uses parallelism is when he talks about the new generation of Americans’: “the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans’ -- born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace…” (Kennedy). Here Kennedy is seen explaining to his audience that the upcoming generation of Americans’ is one of strength and robustness. The group of Americans’ that are the future has been through war and little peace which has prepared them for anything. Lastly, Kennedy integrates the use of parallelism concerning the lengths and bounds that Americans’ will go to so that liberty is achieved: ”we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and the success of liberty” (Kennedy). Although Kennedy uses parallelism in many ways throughout his speech the main focus of his parallelism is to convey to his audience the limitlessness of Americans’.

The main objective of Kennedy in his inaugural speech is to convey a call to action for American citizens. The way Kennedy does this throughout his speech is by using a tone of optimism. Although Kennedy, in the beginning of his speech, addresses all that America has experienced he counters this with his uplifting tone spreading inspiration throughout his audience. The first place this is seen is when Kennedy talks about how the world now is a changed world from before: “For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life” (Kennedy). This sentence is effective for Kennedy's speech because it sets the stage for American citizens.  This specific quote expresses that for change to happen in this new world it is in the hands of the American people. The placement of responsibility in American hands by this sentence conveys a sense of inspiration, and call to action for American citizens. The next part of Kennedy's speech where he uses his optimistic tone is seen when he is talking about how the responsibility has been put amongst the new generation of americans’: “the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans’ -- born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace…” (Kennedy). Kennedys optimistic tone is implemented by listing all the hardships that Americans’ have gone through, which in turn portrays a feeling of strength amongst Kennedy's Audience. Lastly, Kennedy uses his inspirational tone when he speaks on taking over and leading America to success: “With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own'' (Kennedy). In this quote, Kennedy talks about how the only way to guarantee reward and success is to do God's work themselves. This quote also gives Kennedy's audience or American citizens again a call to action and inspiration to transform America.

Lastly, Kennedy uses the rhetorical device of antithesis to expand on his idea of placing the future and responsibilities of America in American citizens hands. The most prominent way Kennedy uses antithesis in his speech is to express Kennedy's views or outlooks. Kennedy is seen doing this in the first paragraph talking about winning the election: “We observe today not a victory of the party, but a celebration of freedom -- symbolizing an end, as well as a beginning -- signifying renewal, as well as change” (Kennedy). In just a few sentences, Kennedy uses three antithesis to set the topic of his speech. The first antithesis Kennedy uses talks about how winning the election is not about a win for the republican party, but in turn winning freedom for everyone. The second antithesis that is integrated here expresses an end to old America, and a beginning to a new America. This expresses the idea that although some traditional ideas have to end, newer and better ideals will come to light. Another example of antithesis that is seen in Kennedy’s address is seen when he is talking about the power of being united instead of divided: “United there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures. Divided there is little we can do -- for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder” (Kennedy). This quote helps express to the audience that they can accomplish much more together rather than separate and alone. The last example of antithesis that is asserted by Kennedy talks about how, although there will be re-establishment, there will also be transformation. All of these examples of antithesis, that are incorporated by Kennedy, come full circle to express that all this must be within the helping hands of American citizens. This antithesis seen in Kennedy's speech is towards the end of his speech when circling back to his main idea of the future of America being in Americans’ hands: “My fellow citizens of the world, ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man” (Kennedy). This last quote wraps up the idea and restates once more that the country can only help Americans’ if Americans’ help the country.

In conclusion, Kennedy's inaugural address is primarily intended to put the future and responsibility for America in Americans’ hands. Kennedy does this first by bringing peace and liberty to light with parallelism. This helps Kennedy convey to his audience what the goal is for America. Next Kennedy uses a reassuring tone and a tone of optimism to provide Americans’ with inspiration. Also, by using that tone, it gives American citizens a call to action. Lastly, Kennedy integrates antithesis throughout his entire speech to cover his idea of putting the responsibility of America onto the new American generation. The strategy of using antithesis also helps Kennedy compare past and the future to come. Kennedy does an outstanding job of explaining his ideas and providing rhetoric to back him up. Kennedy later came to be one of the most famous US presidents in history and led America to great success.

Works Cited

Eidenmuller, Michael E. “John F. Kennedy's Presidential Inaugural Address.” John F. Kennedy -- Inaugural Address, https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/jfkinaugural.htm.