Rhetorical Analysis Of Obama's Speech

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Obama appeals to her audience’s emotions in her excellent use of pathos throughout the speech. She constructs her entire argument around a central theme that has a strong emotional appeal— creating a better future for the children of America. She begins her speech reminiscing about how her and her husband felt when “the heart of our hearts, the center of our world”, their daughters, attended their first day at their new school after their father won the presidency. She recalls watching them “pile into those black SUVs with all those big men with guns.” Her humorous anecdote is relatable to all parents, and establishes a connection with that demographic immediately. But her love and adoration for her daughters is apparent to everyone, and appeals to ethos alongside pathos, making the First Lady seem just like any other loving mother. This immediate emotional connection she forms with her audience makes them more willing to listen to her arguments later on in the speech.