Commencement Speech Rhetorical Analysis

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Comedian and television host Conan O’Brien gave a commencement speech at Stuyvesant High School for the graduating class of 2006. He gave the graduates an inspiring speech concerning their future as college students. However, he still kept the speech humorous with his fast wit. Throughout the speech, Conan O’Brien uses irony and self-deprecation to get his point across. Irony is when what is expected does not occur. Self-deprecation is the act of belittling and disparaging oneself. The overall message of Conan O’Brien’s speech is to take a chance and do what makes you happy. Take your time, find, and pursue a career in something that genuinely interests you, even if most won’t deem it a “successful career”.
In Conan O’Brien’s speech, he talks about graduating from Harvard college and then pursuing a career in comedy. In the commencement speech, he states “So when I graduated from college in 1985, I told my parents, “Thanks for the amazing Ivy League education. Now I want to be a comedian.” This is an example of irony because after going to a school like Harvard, most people would expect him to pursue a more “professional” career like a lawyer, which fits everyone’s perception of a Harvard graduate. However, he wanted to become a comedian. Conan tells the graduates that they should pursue what makes them happy even if it’s …show more content…
He states “Yes, it’s been a wasted life. But I honestly believe that I found the best use for Conan O’Brien.” Here, Conan is belittling the success he’s had as a comedian by saying he’s “wasted” his life, which is an example of self-deprecation. In doing this, Conan makes himself relatable to the audience. However, this also conveys his message. Even if the career path you choose isn't something most would consider to be successful, as long as you're content that's all that matters. Go for what genuinely interests you. It can be a hit-or-miss, but you’ll never know unless you
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