1. Douglas MacArthur’s “Duty, Honor, Country”
ANALYZING RHETORIC
Douglas
MacArthur’s
“Duty, Honor, Country”

2. SPEAKER Douglas MacArthur
- Led a combat division in WWI; commanded forces in WWII
- Headed the U.S. Military Academy at West Point
Army chief of staff in the 1930’s
Supreme allied commander of U.S. and U.N. forces in the 1950’s

3. PURPOSE Speak of patriotism and the soldier’s profession
Vividly define the importance of the soldier in American history
To motivate soldiers to defend freedom

4. AUDIENCE
Speech delivered to cadets at West Point Academy during a farewell visit to his alma mater on May 12, 1962
In the beginning of the speech, he also addresses General Westmoreland, General Groves, distinguished guests, and gentlemen of the Corps

5. MESSAGE
Not everyone has what it takes to be a soldier. Be proud of the role you play in defending this country.

6. RHETORICAL
DEVICES

7. ANTITHESIS Example: “To learn to laugh, yet never forget how to weep.”
Device in which two opposite ideas are put together
in a sentence to achieve a contrasting effect .
Purpose: -To remind the audience of the importance of keeping one’s humanity
Effect: Pathos
-Reminds audience that we are all human
Example: “To learn to laugh, yet never forget how to weep.”

8. Figurative Language
expressing ideas indirectly; language used in a special way to create a special effect made up of words
Examples: “The Long Gray Line has never failed us. . .”
“. . .you stand as the nation’s . . .guardians as its gladiators. . .”
Device : Metaphorical comparison
Effect: It strikes fear in to the hearts of the audience. What would happen if the military failed?
Device : Allusion
Effect: Audience can compare the American soldier to the powerful gladiator figure

9. Figurative Language “. . .code of conduct and chivalry. . .”
expressing ideas indirectly; language used in a special way to create a special effect made up of words
“. . .code of conduct and chivalry. . .”
“. . .filth of dirty foxholes, the stench of ghostly trenches. . .”
Device : Allusion Effect: Knights serve as a familiar archetype for nobility and bravery
Device : Imagery
Effect: Audience can see and smell what soldiers endure

10. ASYNDETON Purpose: Example: To stress importance
The omission of conjunctions where they would normally be used
Example:
“. . .those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you want to be, what you can be, what you will be.”
Purpose:
To stress importance
Elicits a strong emotional reaction
Effect: Pathos
- After hearing this statement, the audience will understand duty, honor, country.

11. Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of the line
ANAPHORA
Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of the line
Example:
“Every pedant, every demagogue, every cynic, every hypocrite, every troublemaker. . . ”
Purpose: - To call attention to the character of the people who criticize the soldiers.
Effect: Pathos -Creates a contrast between the moral character and strength of the soldiers and those who doubt them; it will boost their morale.

12. RHETORICAL QUESTION Example: Purpose:
A question to which no answer is expected
Example:
“Are they reliable? Are they brave? Are they capable of victory? ”
Purpose:
To prompt the audience to think
Effect: Pathos
- Reminds the audience of what can happen without soldiers

13. “your mission remains fixed, determined, inviolable.”
RULE OF THREE
Example:
“your mission remains fixed, determined, inviolable.”
Purpose:
Provides synonyms to emphasize the importance of what they do
Effect: Ethos
- Soldiers will remember that despite all the upheaval and change, what they do is of primary importance and cannot be disrupted.

14. Parallel Structure Example:
using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas
have the same level of importance
Purpose: - To concentrate attention on the main point of a passage
Effect: Ethos
-To highlight the dedication to duty, honor, country
Example:
“Always for them: duty, honor, country. Always their blood, sweat, and tears. . .”

15. RHETORICAL
APPEALS

16. E T H O S
“In my dreams I hear again the crash of guns, the rattle of musketry, the strange, mournful mutter of the battlefield.”
- MacArthur himself has been a soldier, risked his life for his country, knows what the audience will encounter.

17. P A T H O S
MacArthur’s varied use of rhetorical devices makes pathos the most represented appeal.
The use of figurative language, anaphora, repetition, parallel structure and rhetorical questions convince the audience.

18. The soldiers are the only ones trained to fight in war.
“All other public purpose, all other public projects, all other public needs, great or small, will find others for their accomplishments; but you are the ones trained to fight.”
The soldiers are the only ones trained to fight in war.