Pathos

During his early career, Barack Obama's speaking style was pretty much the epitome of pathos. Much like when we used to watch American Idol, when people heard him talk, they cheered, they cried, they chanted, and they cast votes. Basically, people were feeling this guy. Big time.

The economic recession of 2008 was an emotional time, so an appeal to pathos was appropriate for Obama's first big speech as president. Heading into the inauguration in early 2009, Obama and speechwriter Jon Favreau crafted an address designed to comfort a struggling nation, and also to light a fire under people.

Comfort and fire: sounds like a job for some religious rhetoric.

At the beginning of the speech, Obama describes the state of things as a "raging storm" (3.3). This is arguably a subtle reference to the Bible story of the storm on the Sea of Galilee (from Matthew 8:23-27), which is pretty much the prototype for storm metaphors in literature.

In the biblical version, Jesus calms the wind and waves, saving his disciples. But instead of looking straight to Jesus and God to calm the stormy waters of America circa 2009, Obama hands the reins over to average Americans:

America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because we, the people, have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebears. (3.4)

Everything about Obama's rhetorical style is in this sentence. It uses epic-sounding words (forebears), references values (faithfulness), and makes a promise of progress. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would have been proud of this speech.

Faith seems to pop up a few other times throughout the address. And so does fate—the fate of the country. Obama describes the future as an "uncertain destiny" (29.2) but assures Americans that God and determination will see them through it. All the talk of destiny and supernatural powers sounds like something out of Star Wars, which, in fairness, is one of the most profound religions of modern times.