George W. Bush. The Speech Analysis Example

43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush, in his speech, 9/11 Address to the Nation, announces to the nation about the tragedy of 9/11. Bush’s purpose is to inform Americans about the event that occurred and what is going to happen next. Through his use of visual imagery, antithesis, and pathos, Bush creates a reassuring tone IN ORDER TO EXPLAIN TO AMERICANS THE HORROR OF THIS ACT BUT THIS NATION WILL NOT BACK DOWN AFTER THIS ATTACK AND WILL KEEP PUSHING FORWARD AND REMAIN HOPEFUL.

In the first paragraph, Bush uses visual imagery by describing the brutality of what has happened in order for him to explain the terrible tragedy and make the audience realize the evil in this attack. He illustrates a picture in the minds of the audience by stating “The pictures of airplanes flying into buildings, fire burning, huge-- huge structures collapsing have filled us with disbelief, terrible sadness, and a quiet, unyielding anger”(lines 5-7). By describing what the scene of the attack looks like, it allows Bush to analyze the true damage of this event. Bush wants Americans to realize how this event will impact our nation forever and not only were we surprised, he was as well. The feelings that he has truly emphasized just how upsetting this was for everyone in this nation. Bush provides the audience with a long-lasting image of destruction and darkness in their head which makes them feel many emotions. By giving the audience a dark image in their minds, it allows him to explain to the nation that this will not make the United States weak in any way and make them feel courage and power. 

In order to alleviate the pressure off of Americans, Bush uses antithesis to compare the damage done to buildings to the powerfulness of America. He describes the foundation of a building to America, “Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of American resolve”(lines 10-11).Bush’s purpose is to show that America is strong based on the fact that it has a tough “foundation.” To compare the attack on the big buildings and the damage that resulted from it, it contrasted America to be untouchable and that we will bounce back from that. Though our biggest buildings may be ruined, America is not. This is connected to his purpose since he is letting the citizens of Americans know that this tragedy will not stop America from pushing on and that we will come back stronger as a nation. From the statement, the audience will believe the president and will want to push on and show the people that did this act that it is not going to damage the nation. American Citizens will feel comfortable because of how confident the President is in his choices for the country.

In paragraph 8, Bush uses pathos to instill hope in the American citizens so they learn that this is not the end of this great nation. He announces, “None of us will ever forget this day, yet we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world”(lines 43-45). By announcing that though we will never forget what happened, he relieves the audience when he says that the nation will keep moving forward. Bush emphasizes in this statement that we will not lose the freedoms that we have gotten many years ago. Thus, it allows Bush to finally conclude his main purpose, which is to instill hope and to announce that American will not stop fighting through all the hard times. Though the audience will be overwhelmed with emotion at the end of the speech, he concludes it this way so the audience has some hope for the nation, which is what he wants to achieve. Bush wants the audience to trust him and from this comment, it makes them feel confident on what the President has his mind on. The American citizens will grieve for however long they need to, but from this speech, it will inspire them that this is not going to make the country weak but will make them stronger than before.

On September 11th, 2001, George W. Bush announced to America about the terrible tragedy that happened. To describe what happened, but comfort the Americans and make them feel confident and hopeful, he used visual imagery to fully create the image of damage that occurred, antithesis to compare the big buildings that were hit to the strong country that is America, and pathos to make Americans feel hopeful and ready for what will happen next.