Rhetoric: using language to influence Using language to influence other people can be seen as persuasive language at its most devious. But it can also be seen as persuasive language as its most responsible and essential. A leading political or national figure dies in terrible circumstances – an assassination or an accident. It is arguably essential for those who remain in positions of authority to speak in public in a way that shows respect to the dead, but which also calls for public calm. It might even be the role of the leading assassin to appear in public and try to justify the assassination. And to feel obliged to let the leading figure in the opposing camp speak as well – who might then try to use their influence to stir up resistance against the new rulers, at the same time as claiming only to be speaking respectfully of the dead. Complex and sometimes even contradictory kinds of persuasion are inevitably at work in such situations.

Brutus’s and Antony’s speeches after the assassination of Julius Caesar http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03_fszkBKjw [Canadian performance – unknown source] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7X9C55TkUP8&feature=related [Marlon Brando as Mark Antony in 1953 film-version, directed by Joseph Manciewicz]

Using language to influence: Brutus’s speech, Julius Caesar (Act 3, scene 2) Romans, countrymen, and lovers! Hear me for my cause; and be silent, that you may hear: believe me for mine honour, and have respect to mine honour, that you may believe: censure me in your wisdom; and awake your senses, that you may the better judge. If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of Caesar's, to him I say that Brutus' love to Caesar was no less than his. If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer: Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more. Had you rather Caesar were living, and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all freemen? As Caesar loved me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honour him; but, as he was ambitious, I slew him. There is tears for his love; joy for his fortune; honour for his valour; and death for his ambition. Who is here so base that would be a bondman? If any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so rude that would not be a Roman? If any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so vile that will not love his country? If any, speak; for him have I offended. I pause for a reply. tricolon pathos antithesis anaphora

Using language to influence: Antony’s speech, Julius Caesar (Act 3, scene 2) Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones: So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus Hath told you Caesar was ambitious. If it were so, it was a grievous fault; And grievously hath Caesar answered it. Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest -- For Brutus is an honourable man; So are they all, all honourable men -- Come I to speak in Caesar's funeral. He was my friend, faithful and just to me; But Brutus says he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honourable man. He hath brought many captives home to Rome, Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill: Did this in Caesar seem ambitious? tricolon antithesis anadiplosis exemplum

Using language to influence: Antony’s speech, Julius Caesar (Act 3, scene 2) When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept: Ambition should be made of sterner stuff: Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honourable man. You all did see that on the Lupercal I thrice presented him a kingly crown, Which he did thrice refuse: was this ambition? Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; And sure he is an honourable man. I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke, But here I am to speak what I do know. You all did love him once, not without cause: What cause withholds you, then, to mourn for him? O judgment, thou art fled to brutish beasts, And men have lost their reason! Bear with me; My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar, And I must pause till it come back to me. exemplum sarcasm anadiplosis

Tony Blair’s and the Queen’s speeches after the death of Princess Diana https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yX8nuyI9WJY [Tony Blair as Prime Minister, speaking outside church in his Sedgefield constituency on the morning the death was announced] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heLTBaLGNQs [Queen Elizabeth II, speaking from Buckingham Palace on the eve of the funeral]  

Using language to influence: Tony Blair’s speech (31st August 1997) I feel like everyone else in this country today -- utterly devastated. Our thoughts and prayers are with Princess Diana’s family -- in particular her two sons, the two boys -- our hearts go out to them. We are today a nation, in Britain, in a state of shock, in mourning, in grief that is so deeply painful for us. She was a wonderful and warm human being. Though her own life was often sadly touched by tragedy, she touched the lives of so many others in Britain -- throughout the world -- with joy and with comfort. How many times shall we remember her, in how many different ways, with the sick, the dying, with children, with the needy, when, with just a look or a gesture that spoke so much more than words, she would reveal to all of us the depth of her compassion and her humanity. How difficult things were for her from time to time, I’m sure we can only guess at -- but the people everywhere, not just here in Britain but everywhere, they kept faith with Princess Diana, they liked her, they loved her, they regarded her as one of the people. She was the people’s princess and that’s how she will stay, how she will remain in our hearts and in our memories forever. ethos tricolon alliteration anadiplosis

Using language to influence: Tony Blair’s speech (31st August 1997) I feel like everyone else in this country today -- utterly devastated. Our thoughts and prayers are with Princess Diana’s family -- in particular her two sons, the two boys -- our hearts go out to them. We are today a nation, in Britain, in a state of shock, in mourning, in grief that is so deeply painful for us. She was a wonderful and warm human being. Though her own life was often sadly touched by tragedy, she touched the lives of so many others in Britain -- throughout the world -- with joy and with comfort. How many times shall we remember her, in how many different ways, with the sick, the dying, with children, with the needy, when, with just a look or a gesture that spoke so much more than words, she would reveal to all of us the depth of her compassion and her humanity. How difficult things were for her from time to time, I’m sure we can only guess at -- but the people everywhere, not just here in Britain but everywhere, they kept faith with Princess Diana, they liked her, they loved her, they regarded her as one of the people. She was the people’s princess and that’s how she will stay, how she will remain in our hearts and in our memories forever. ethos tricolon alliteration anadiplosis

Using language to influence: Queen Elizabeth II’s speech (9th Sept Since last Sunday’s dreadful news we have seen, throughout Britain and around the world, an overwhelming expression of sadness at Diana’s death. We have all been trying in our different ways to cope. It is not easy to express a sense of loss, since the initial shock is often succeeded by a mixture of other feelings: disbelief, incomprehension, anger -- and concern for those who remain. We have all felt those emotions in these last few days. So what I say to you now, as your queen and as a grandmother, I say from my heart. First, I want to pay tribute to Diana myself. She was an exceptional and gifted human being. In good times and bad, she never lost her capacity to smile and laugh, nor to inspire others with her warmth and kindness. I admired and respected her -- for her energy and commitment to others, and especially for her devotion to her two boys. This week at Balmoral, we have all been trying to help William and Harry come to terms with the devastating loss that they and the rest of us have suffered. No one who knew Diana will ever forget her. Millions of others who never met her, but felt they knew her, will remember her. I for one believe that there are lessons to be drawn from her life and from the extraordinary and moving reaction to her death. I share in your determination to cherish her memory. This is also an opportunity for me, on behalf of my family, and especially Prince Charles and William and Harry, to thank all of you who have brought flowers, sent messages, and paid your respects in so many ways to a remarkable person. These acts of kindness have been a huge source of help and comfort. Our thoughts are also with Diana’s family and the families of those who died with her. I know that they too have drawn strength from what has happened since last weekend, as they seek to heal their sorrow and then to face the future without a loved one. I hope that tomorrow we can all, wherever we are, join in expressing our grief at Diana’s loss, and gratitude for her all-too-short life. It is a chance to show to the whole world the British nation united in grief and respect. tricolon ethos antitheses anaphora antithesis