Barack Obama: Speech analysis­: Acceptan­ce speech for the democrat­ic party - American Dream

The American Dream is the simple idea that the United

States of America is the place where everyone has the

chance of becoming happy. ''Becoming happy'' is meant in

many ways. Not just economic success but also the possibility

of living in freedom and safe. The principles of the American

Dream are that anybody with a god-given talent, character

(believing in God) and a lot of effort (hard work and perserverance)

can achieve almost anything they want. The U.S. is also the

only place where the American Dream is possible because

here is the only place where you have a great balance of

political,social and economic environment and this is also

conditioned by America's history and the origin of the culture.

The presidential candidate for the Democratic Party is

senator Barack Obama who makes use of the idea of the

American Dream in his speech accepting his Party's

nomination. Hereafter, I am trying to show up the most

significant aspects that Obama employed in his speech.

First of all, Obama refers to himself as a living example of

the ''from rags to riches'' motif. His parents , ''a young man from

Kenya and a young woman from Kansas who weren't well-off

or well-known'' (l.9) , as a typical example for normal people and

then looking at himself as (a successful person) a presidential

candidate is a really strong instance. Not just that it seems like

he proved that a main idea of the American Dream is real,

but also, because of the fact that he is an African American ,

it strengthens his apposite argument that the American Dream

works for anybody regardless of his ethnic and/or social background.

Besides that, Barack Obama refers to the American Dream

in his speech when he says that all Americans ''have the obligation

to treat each other with dignity and respe.....

connecting with the audience because he primarily has a strong

statement where he calls out the American people (,himself) and

using the pronouns clearly shows the link the creates between

himself and the auditors. That affects the people in order to have the association of the American Dream followed by the perfect affirmative example of himself. Which he combines smoothly with the pronouns

so that the people get the feeling that Obama is one of them

and that any of them could achieve the same things if they

pursue their dreams and put enough effort in it.

Moreover, Barack Obama makes use of the picture of him talking

''to [his] daughters when [he] tucks them in at night''(ll.72;73) .

The people in the audience link themselves subconsciously to

Obama because they identify themselves with him and also see

that he is an usual guy like them. In addition to that he does not

just connect to the people but he also seems to be a kind and a

familiar person. Which makes Obama even more likeable and this

creates an even stronger bond betw.....

ll.19-22 -> l.23 ''promise'' ; ll.37-47 -> l.49 ''promise'')

This makes it easier to follow for the auditors because there is

a correlation and a simple structure. And this makes Obama

appear even more capable of great changes.

Another significant point about the word ''promise'' is that Barack

Obama uses the word several times in context with the word

''America's''(ll.37). So that, he creates a new word constellation

''America's promise''(l.60) which reminds of another famous

and impressivespeech from Martin Luther King, Jr.

But instead of talking about just a ''dream'', which just is the wish that

might become true, Barack Obama uses the word promise, so that

there is no doubt about the compliance of ''America's promise''.

These stylistic devices create an atmosphere of departure and

a great, strong and impressive aura around Barack Obama.

In addition it reinforces his capabilities and his sympathy the

audience feels for him. And of course they are suitable with his

campaign wi.....