Apply for TYFA
Effective rhetoric is achieved by evaluating the impact of various aspects within an argument. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain’s ability to persuade depended on his understanding of his audience, subject, speaker and purpose. His purpose in arguing was to convince mutineers of Second Regiment of Maine of the benefits of extended enlistment. The Civil War, he argued, was about preserving the freedom of Americans and not about abolishing slavery. Chamberlain knew that deployment contracts was a controversial topic, so he included his own opinions and feelings into his speech. His rhetoric was successful because of these factors.
To be successful, all persuasion techniques must make the listener feel connected to the speaker. Chamberlain used comfort, or cognitive easy, to soften audiences. Cognitive ease involves a tactic related to the ethos of consoling and countering unsatisfaction. The audience is encouraged to feel empowered and in a good mood by keeping the presentation simple. Chamberlain took a friendly, relaxed tone when he spoke with the Regiment Speaker to help establish trust. Chamberlain spoke in the same pleasant, light-hearted manner he used when speaking to rebellious college students who came with grievances and hadn’t yet realized that a gentle answer can turn away anger. Chamberlain realized that mutineers distrusted him and he redirected their anger in a way to make them want to fight along with him. Chamberlain’s speech was simple and straightforward. Chamberlain supported the mutineers as he believed that empowering these men would encourage them to fight. He used comfort to gain the Regiment’s men’s respect and trust.
It is essential that the speaker creates a connection with the audience in order to make an effective argument. Chamberlain’s speech in The Killer Angels aimed to invoke patriotism to establish a commonality between him and his mutineers. Commonplace is a public opinion that a speaker uses to convince an audience of their goals. Patriotism is one of the most powerful emotions and ethos related tactics to persuade the audience. Chamberlain uses the phrase “This is open ground” to describe the vitality of Union and the connection between it and freedom. From here all the way to Pacific Ocean. It’s not necessary to bow… Here you can do something…It’s a belief that we are all valuable” (p.30). He made a connection between the regiments, saying, “What’s important is that we fight together” (30). He effectively explained that both regiments shared a common goal, the preservation or the Union. After the men realized this, they joined Chamberlain’s men.
When it comes to certain forms of persuasive speech, showing weakness or doubt can be detrimental. Chamberlain is a master at using rhetorical doubt. Dubitatio means to project uncertainty as to how a speech should begin or progress. This lowers audience expectations and allows the speaker later to surprise them by presenting facts. This tactic is used to evoke sympathy and pity. Chamberlain begins his speech by explaining the effects of war on his regiment. He says, “There was a thousand us back then.” “There are only 300 of us today” (p.29). The fact that he acknowledged the rapid decline of his troops revealed doubts about his abilities and his involvement in the war. In this excerpt it also says “He spoke extremely slowly, staring into the ground”(p.29). Dubitatio emphasizes the creation of an illusion. By avoiding eyecontact, he conveys to his audience his doubts regarding his rhetorical skill. Chamberlain tried to win over the Regiment’s members by provoking sympathy, thus allowing them to be open to his argument. Chamberlain’s strategy was to create sympathy among the Regiment members, so that they would be more receptive to his argument. The audience was able to see him in a humbler light and more open-minded, which made them more receptive to his argument.
Rhetoricians are always concerned with how they can deal with an unwilling audience. In the excerpt, the mutineers resented being required to remain in war when others from their Regiment could return home. The illusion of a speaker being forced to accept a particular conclusion is called reluctance. It’s a form of ethos in that it tells the listener the speaker is convinced by their beliefs but forced to come to a conclusion different due to logic. Chamberlain’s tactic is to use this to convince an audience of Chamberlain’s reluctance to obey orders. The excerpt states, “I’ve received orders to take you with me, and I’m doing it…The Reb army is waiting up ahead for us, and now is not the time to argue like this” (p.29). Chamberlain’s reluctance was used to convince audiences that he agreed with their opinions but had to force his audience to go to war, regardless of the men’s wishes. Chamberlain understood that by associating with the cause, he would be able to get them more receptive.
