Lincoln's Ironic but iconic speech

By: Abby Juarez

“The Gettysburg Address” was a speech written by President Lincoln that was to inform the public that if a nation of such freedom and democracy were to fail, there would be no hope left. Lincoln uses pathos, ethos and logos make his point. 

To start with, Lincoln uses allusion, meaning when the founding fathers of America founded a new country which they saw as an opportunity to spread freedom. He also uses the line of “all men are created equal”(Lincoln Para.1) referring to the Declaration of Independence. He uses logos to give the facts of why the nation started. Nevertheless, Lincoln also uses imagery in the first paragraph. In the line “conceived in liberty,” (Lincoln Para. 1) it referred to the people who discovered America wanted it to be a place where humans can be who they are and express their opinions openly. He is using pathos to trigger emotion of finding hope and to let the democracy continue.

On top of that, the 16th president of America used mostly contrast in his second paragraph of his iconic speech. When he addresses the part that the soldiers gave their lives that the nation will have a chance of surviving, he is saying that the soldiers did a courageous thing in order for the country to blossom. The second was positive because of the people who sacrificed their lives for this country, it will most likely get out of the situation they’re in. He is using logos because it is pure logic and facts. 

Lastly, in the beginning of the sentence, he uses Anaphora, repeating the words “we cannot” (Lincoln Para.3). he also mentions contrast that the world will eventually forget everything he says that day but will remember the causes of the war. The following sentence after that is an example of call to action. He is basically explaining that it is our duty to finish what we began and dedicate a memorial for those who lost their lives during the battle. These are all example of ethos because he is being humble about it. “That we were highly resolve that these dead shall have not died in vain” (Lincoln Para.3) is an example of pathos since it is triggering guilt and a sense of giving back. In the final sentence of the speech, he applies epistrophe and is constantly using the term “the people”(Lincoln Para.3). This means that the government was a sign of their liberty because most people could speak what they believed and if they don’t swallow their pride soon, their government will seize to exist. 

All things considered, Lincoln uses a fine amount of logos, ethos and pathos to keep his point across. He uses logos to use logic and facts of what was going on. He engages in ethos to show to others that he is humble and worth their time. Lastly, he uses pathos to trigger emotions of the dead soldier in order for them to get a memorial in their honor. However, he also uses other rhetorical devices such as contrast, allusion, imagery, anaphora, call to action and epistrophe.