Analysis Of Abraham Lincoln's Speech
In addressing his nation for the second time as President of the United States of America, Abraham Lincoln provided a short yet edifying speech that analyzed the past of the country while delivering hope for the future of the nation. Through his proper use of syntax and appeal to pathos, Lincoln created a perfectly just speech that comprised a length not too short to be unprofessional and not too long to be overbearing. Having already addressed the nation four years prior, he did not overextend his second address but kept it precise, yet spontaneous, professional, yet welcoming to the public.
In the beginning of his speech, Lincoln announced starts by establishing an equal basis for the audience. Lincoln talked about the war and how, “[a]t the expiration of four years…[t]he progress of our arms, upon which all else chiefly depends, is as well known to the public as to myself, and it is…reasonably satisfactory and encouraging to all.” Lincoln’s careful choice of words allowed the reader, or in this case the listener, to understand easily without any question about what his purpose was or where he was coming from. That was to instill his fellow citizens with wisdom and hope for the future of the nation. In saying that, Lincoln was trying to establish a ground basis where everyone knew nothing more than anyone else, including Lincoln himself. Lincoln made sure everyone knew that, “[t]he progress of our arms…[are] as well known to the public as to [him]self.” His whole point in establishing this at the beginning of his speech was to ensue peace among his citizens and high expectations for the future of the nation. By using fluent transitions, it is made clear his professional position and voice as well.
Lincoln used a great deal of parallel structure throughout his speech to compare and contrast very opposite images. Lincoln lived in an era of conflict. There was the war between the North and the South, for slavery or against slavery. He described the difference between the sides in that, “one [party]…would make war rather than let the nation survive, and the other [party] would accept war rather than let it perish, and the war came.” By saying this he is neither taking sides nor putting any one side below the other. His purpose in saying this was to institute fairness for both sides and to make it clear that he was not choosing sides. The effect of the parallel structure also helped to create that sense of unity between the two sides in a time where unity seemed far away.
Although neither taking sides or putting anyone down, the President was trying to get both sides to feel at fault for the extent that the war had endured. Again, later on in his speech he used parallel structure to put both sides on analogous grounds. But the whole purpose of this point in his speech was to appeal to the emotions of the audience. He referred to God and tied in religion, something that both the North and the South had in common. Lincoln spoke of how, “neither party expected for the war the magnitude or the duration which it has already attained. Neither anticipated…the conflict itself should cease. Each looked for an easier triumph…[b]oth read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invoked His aid against the other.” This was used to appeal to the audiences’ emotions because in Lincoln’s time period, the vast majority of Americans were Christians. The whole purpose of bringing in religion was to affect the audience by joining them in the one thing they had in common, religion. North or South, Lincoln wanted them to come together and see the hope for the future, together.
Lincoln was trying to create common ground for both sides so that they could see the similarities aside from their differences. Both the North and the South are made up of Christian-Americans. To continue with this same aspect in his speech, he uses a direct quote from the Bible right before the end of his speech to show that the war wasn’t anyone’s real intention and that God isn’t anticipating aiding any side in defeating the other. His biblical references are used to give his audience a sense of hope for the future. With the war still going on, it was hard to see the future of the nation. His appeal to religion provided encouragement for the future and for the people of his nation.
“With malice toward none, with charity for all…to bind up the nation’s wounds…to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations,” Lincoln finalized his speech by creating an equal level for all Americans and calling them to take action to work on peace among ourselves and nations all around. He wanted to end his speech on a note that created confidence in his audience and drove them to do good for their country and do good for all people around them. By appealing to the common man, Lincoln really stepped forward with a surprisingly short yet driving speech that invoked unity in all Americans and guided his fellow citizens into a bright future of hope and clarity.
