Rhetorical Criticism of Cross of Gold speech by William Jennings Bryan
Let's begin by analyzing and explaining the theory of metaphoric criticism. A metaphor, as defined by Aristotle, is the transference of a name from the object to which it has a natural application. A metaphor is decoration, ornamentation, and figurative language to a rhetor. They are not needed but create unordinary speech. Metaphors serve as heuristic tools for suggesting new hypothesis, new areas of research, and new research strategies. They also function as rhetorical devices for communicating ideas. Let's consider uses of metaphor as tools for thought and communication. The tool function of metaphor is to extend the capacity of active memory using the medium speech; while the function of metaphor as a tool for thought...is to extend our capacities for perceiving relationships in the perceptual domain to the conceiving of relationships in the conceptual domain. A criticism is an analysis or finding a fault of something. Together, the two definitions compose a metaphoric criticism. There are four steps to using metaphors as a unit of analysis; Formulating a research question and selecting an artifact, selecting a unit of analysis, analyzing the artifact, and writing the
This last subdivision is a wholesome reminder of the impact of textual and contextual factors respectively: on the one hand verbal context often crucially co-determines meaning; on the other hand a study of donor domains of expressions of LA and the evaluations adhering to them reveals how deeply moral judgments (about force, control) are already embedded in the ways the English language allows us to speak about speech. WJB linked broadened prosperity directly to agriculture and to the purchasing power of labor. He struck out forcefully at the conservative debate that true prosperity requires first at stable base for invested wealth, from which prosperity grows. He says that ones riches maybe another's resource. The more privileged should not be able to destroy the less fortunate by taking what they have made and burn it to the ground. They should help them build on it and make it stronger. In applying the theories of metaphoric criticism, I will focus on two metaphors used throughout the "Cross of Gold" speech. The first use of metaphors is to convey violent acts to show the wrongfulness in changing the gold standard. Bryan refers back to fighting, contest, and war to show that the people are not going to go along with the government. Bryan speaks of "brother against brother, father against son" to show that part of the government is on the same level as the citizens and another part is above the rest. But when the citizens "clad in armor," they will be stronger and overcome the wrath of the government. WJB refers to the office as "the plank which declares against life tenure." What is shown here is the opposition of what is being built up by the plank in Washington. The life tenure being built is opposed, and "excludes from participation in official benefits the humbler members of society." In 1979, Michael Reddy published an article about the `conduit metaphor' which George Lakoff (1993: 204-5) praised as seminal for the insight that metaphors are fundamental to human language and conceptualizing. Reddy's (1979) claim was that human communication is overwhelmingly understood in terms of a speaker or writer transmitting meanings, pack
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1464
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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