Britnee Haslam

English 1010
Rhetorical Analysis Essay

Sylvanus Thayer Award Acceptance Event

General Douglas MacArthur wrote this article as an acceptance speech

in 1962. In this speech, MacArthur demonstrates the compassion that he has
for the armed forces and the values and morals that come to those who
dedicate their lives to serving. With his writings General Douglas MacArthur
shows immense appreciation, discipline, and respect for those fighting for
our country through rhetorical devices such as imagry, hyberbole, and
prothysteron.
MacArthur demonstrates passion and admiration for the armed forces
using imagery. In his wording in lines such as, "As I listened to those songs
[of the glee club], in memory's eye I could see those staggering columns of
the First World War, bending under soggy packs, on many a weary march
from dripping dusk to drizzling dawn, slogging ankle-deep through the mire
of shell-shocked roads, to form grimly for the attack, blue-lipped, covered
with sludge and mud, chilled by the wind and rain, driving home to their
objective, and for many, to the judgment seat of God." (MacArthur)
MacArthur emphasizes the use of adjectives and descriptive colorful word
choices to describe the emotion and intensity of his experiences. In letting us

into his thoughts and personal prospective, MacArthur portrays a different

view into the armed forces. In his mind, the armed forces resemble "Duty,
Honor, Country" (MacArthur).
In some lines, MacArthur's imagery is used so often and so deeply that
it turns his speech into a narrative. In the line, " The shadows are
lengthening for me. The twilight is here. My days of old have vanished, tone
and tint" (MacArthur), as well as, "And 20 years after, on the other side of the
globe, again the filth of murky foxholes, the stench of ghostly trenches, the
slime of dripping dugouts; those boiling suns of relentless heat, those
torrential rains of devastating storms; . . ." (MacArthur) he describes his
feelings in a story-telling, descriptive method. In doing so MacArthur
strengthens his argument and truly gets his intended audience to take
interest in what he is reading. With such strong imagery MacArthur makes his
audience understand the depth of respect and passion that he and his fellow
comrades have for the United States of America.
MacArthure's use of Hyperbole in this passage is outstanding as well.
He strengthens his argument even further with the use of over the
exaggeration of the integrity and honor of those who choose to serve, he
attempts to validate the respect that he so obviously portrays in his speech.
In lines such as, "His name and fame are the birthright of every American
citizen. In his youth and strength, his love and loyalty, he gave all that
mortality can give." (MacArthur) he gives a great example of exaggeration.
Another great example would be towards the end of his speech

In using this device, the author reiterates his point so that his audience
will truly hear what he is trying to say. He uses the exaggeration in his
speech to make the audience feel what he is feeling. With the hypostrophe
that MacArthur is using in his speech, he is again magnifying his feelings for
the army and the country. He uses this device when he spastically uses the
line, "Duty, Honor, Country". This line is touched on at the beginning of the
essay, forgotten, and returned to multiple times in this writing.
MacArthur ends his speech with the line, " Today marks my final roll
call with you . . ." (MacArthur). He organized his speech making what,
seemingly should be his first introductory statement, his closing paragraph.
This use of prothysteron, ultimately makes his audience focus on what he is
truly trying to say and what he is trying to make others see. In using this
device, he shifts the focus of the speech from himself, to those he is trying to
personalize and personify.
In his acceptance speech MacArthur embodies and personalizes every
single soldier that is fighting for the United States Army. He magnifies and
intentionally reiterates the enormity of their sacrifice. MacArthur chooses his
words carefully and uses a number of devices to repeat his point and help his
audience understand the integrity, discipline, and sacrifice that being a
soldier truly takes. He unceasingly points out the importance of , "Duty
honor, country". (MacArthur)

MacArthur, Douglas. "Sylvanus Thayer Award Acceptance Event." American

Rhetoric. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 July 2016.