Elements of the Rhetorical Situation
Despite its simplicity, Lou Gehrig’s speech is clearly an example of effective rhetoric. But its effectiveness does not merely lie in his choice of language. As one rhetoric textbook explains it, “Lou Gehrig understood that rhetoric is always situational” (Shea, Scanlon & Aufses).
Gehrig’s speech offers a good example of how a speaker or author can address the different elements of the rhetorical situation. These elements are most often described in terms of the speaker or author, the audience, the subject, the context, and the purpose of a speech or a text. Speaker/Author This might seem the most obvious element in the rhetorical situation, but consider how many different aspects and moods a single person can have depending on circumstances. For example, you yourself probably act quite differently when you talk about a favorite movie than when you talk about a math problem. We describe each of the different “selves” that speakers may adopt as a persona—a kind of character they present to the world. This term doesn’t really mean taking a false identity; it’s more about the particular part of your personality you bring to the situation. In Gehrig’s case, he downplays his role as a championship athlete, and instead speaks as a simple ballplayer and a family man, someone who is thankful for his associations and who appreciates the respect of his peers. At the same time, he implicitly rejects any identification with his illness or any feelings of bitterness. Much of the appeal of the speech lies in this humble, sincere persona. Audience The second key element of the rhetorical situation is the listener or reader who is the object of the communication. Who is the speaker or writer trying to reach? What is their background? What are their attitudes? What do they expect to hear? Students often forget to consider the audience when they write an essay or an assignment for school, but it usually makes a big difference in normal conversation. Consider how you might talk about a bad grade on a test with your friends; then think about what you might say to your parents. The difference in the situation is one of audience. Lou Gehrig was speaking to an audience of his fans, as well as his fellow athletes. He knew they were concerned about him, and that they had followed his career and shown him respect over the years. His words of reassurance and appreciation are directed toward them, and even his praise of his managers and the team owner are in the nature of a public statement about them rather than a private word to them. Subject The subject of a speech or piece of writing is usually what we think of first, but it really plays only one part in a larger picture. After all, we have all had conversations where we could hardly remember the topic under discussion later, even though we remember the lively spirit of the talk. In Gehrig’s case, the subject of his speech is a surprise: he is talking about how lucky he is. He uses this subject to address the larger topic of his illness: by shifting the focus from his struggle to his blessings, he demonstrates the attitude he wants to show, rather than talking about it directly. Context A key element of any speech or text is the time, place, and circumstances in which it takes place. The way you discuss something in the cafeteria might be very different from what you say in class, even if the same friends are present. In the same way, rhetoric has to respond to particular events taking place, to other ideas and opinions being expressed, and to special occasions or conditions that might affect it. Lou Gehrig’s speech took place in a crowded ballpark on the 4th of July; that fact alone gave it importance. But it was also a special “Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day,” the public’s first chance to express their feelings after learning of his career-ending illness. And only Gehrig himself knew the life-threatening nature of his diagnosis. This context gave special weight to his words, and added further poignancy in retrospect when he died so soon afterward. Purpose A final element in the rhetorical situation is the speaker’s or author’s purpose. What is he or she hoping to accomplish? Purpose may be related to subject, but it is subtly different: we often choose our subject in order to achieve a certain effect or accomplish a particular aim, rather than beginning with a particular topic. Gehrig was a reluctant public figure who preferred to let his actions speak for him, but he recognized the necessity of speaking at his ceremony. Judging by his words, his purpose was twofold: he wanted to offer comfort and hope for those who were concerned about him, and he wanted to express his appreciation for the esteem of his peers and for the support of his family. Gehrig’s thesis or claim—that he was “the luckiest man alive”—was perfectly suited to accomplish his purpose, and to address the other elements of the rhetorical situation. It is primarily this sense of connection and appropriateness, rather than Gehrig’s particular phrasing or language, that makes people remember the speech today. Self-Check Take this quiz on the elements of the rhetorical situation. For each quote from Lou Gehrig's speech below, choose the element that his words are most directly addressing. When you finish the quiz, you will see your score. |
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