Rhetorical Analysis: Mount Holyoke College

Mount Holyoke College is a women’s college in Massachusetts. In 1997, the United States Secretary of State at the time, Madeleine Albright, gave the commencement speech to the graduating class of the college. Albright uses imagery, hyperbole, a quote and exaggeration in order to inspire the graduates to see the strength they have as women. She urges them to use this strength to serve their country and support the current administration as they work hard to improve the country. To begin with, Albright uses imagery when speaking about the perseverance and achievements of women by saying that women are standing up everywhere, whether they hit a glass ceiling or rise from a dirt floor. This gives the audience an image of women standing up for themselves, no matter where they …show more content…

This exaggeration gives the women an inspiring example of the difference one woman can make. By mentioning the risk the woman went through for democracy, she is evoking a spirit of loyalty for the country. In other words, she makes the graduates want to also help make such a difference in their own country. Her choice to exaggerate this story allows her to inspire the graduates to take risks in order to make positive changes for their country. Furthermore, Albright continues on to use a quote from Robert Kennedy that says “if there’s nobody in your way, it’s because you’re not going anywhere.” She uses this quote to say that you should not be discouraged by any challenges that are put in your way, because they mean that you are making some new kind of progress. This inspires the graduates to eliminate any fears they may have and just do what they want to do. As well as inspiring the graduates, she is also referring to the country’s administration, and how they will not be discouraged by the challenges they might