Rhetorical Analysis Of Nonviolent Resistance By Chavez

Rhetorical Analysis: Cesar Chavez speech to the Commonwealth Club (1984) On November 9, 1984 in San Francisco, California, Cesar Chavez gave his speech to the Commonwealth Club of California. This club is not a profit educational organization based in Northern California and it’s the oldest and largest public affairs forum that puts together events about politics, culture, society, and the economy. Cesar Chavez was a labor leader and civil rights activist who was known to help others, especially farm workers. He spoke out against the inequality these people endured to labor and living conditions.

We have to voice up in order to let the public aware of the hazardous pesticides. In Wrath of Grapes Boycott Speech by Cesar Chavez, Chavez talks about the effects of using different types of pesticides in agriculture especially grapes. He argues that the pesticides not only harm the consumer, in fact it also harms the farmworkers and their families. Therefore, Chavez sincerely wants to tell the public that we should be aware of the usage of the pesticides by publishing this speech. In his speech he uses scientific researches to support his argument on the usage of pesticides. First, Chavez used the report from Environmental Protection Agency’s statistics to claim the pesticide used is more harmful than consumers think and it is also not that

For example, to describe pesticides, Chavez frequently uses the words “poison”and “dangerous” (Chavez, Wrath of Grapes). It is evident that this is is an example of loaded language due to its negative connotation. It has a negative connotation because the people suffering from the poisonous and dangerous pesticides will be detrimentally affected. This provokes the buyers and farmers of grapes because they will want to put an end to the suffering. Furthermore, when talking directly to the audience to convince them to join the movement, Chavez often states the word “fight”(Chavez, Wrath of Grapes). The word “fight” shows that they are fighting injustice and have something to fight for, thus proving that it is a loaded word. This provokes the audience because they will want to join the fight. Hence, Chavez uses the rhetorical strategy of loaded words to provoke farmers and consumers of grapes to fight in the movement for farmers’ rights and against pesticides.

Cesar Chavez was a civil rights activist who organized the earliest Chicano movements. In an essay by Jorge Mariscal, Chavez’s political ideology is

How does one form an effective argument? Ceaser Chavez uses logical appeals, the credibility of important figures, and emotional connections in order to form his arguments. The excerpt he demonstrates this with a clear message in regards to nonviolence. In “He Showed Us The Way”, Ceaser Chavez employs ethos, pathos, and logos to demonstrates how nonviolent practices are more effective then using violence. Among the most direct rhetorical techniques that Chavez implements is ethos, corroborating the power of nonviolence.

Throughout Chavez’s article, he uses much of ethos, pathos, and logos, which are only a few of the many rhetorical devices that can be used to support one’s claims, idea’s, and arguments. Furthermore, Chavez continues his use of these rhetorical devices to emphasis on the importance of not participating in aggressive actions since they usually lead to complications. For instance, Chavez asserts that “When victory comes through violence, it is a victory with strings attached … victory would come at the expense of injury and perhaps death”(65-68). This quote from Cesar Chavez is an example of pathos since, previously mentioned, he is aiming to reach the sensitive side of his audience. He does this so that his readers object to vicious behaviors

Chavez makes the point that marches, strikes, and boycotts are not the only weapons of violence. He points out that the boycott as Gandhi taught “is the most nearly perfect instrument of nonviolence change.” This allowed the masses of people to participate actively in a cause. This appeal of ethos demonstrates that violence does not work, it just causes more riots. People suffer from violence, and it is unsuccessful. Chavez uses ethos to emphasize to the readers that violence gets you nowhere, and nonviolence is more

By using ethos, the reader believes what Chavez is saying because not only has nonviolence worked in the past, but by credible figures such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi. The author is able to easily back up and verify his points when the has credible sources and facts. “The boycott, as Gandhi taught, is the most nearly perfect instrument of nonviolent change, allowing masses of people to participate actively in a cause.” (Chavez, line 59) After reading this, the audience is lead to believe that clearly this author knows what he’s talking about. Not only is the author credible at this point, but his idea is being stressed and it becomes clear that nonviolence is the only way to handle conflict or get their point across when change is needed and actually be listened to as well as

In the speech “Lessons of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr” by Cesar Chavez uses Pathos to Inspire his audience. In the speech, Chavez Chavez said “ The time is now for people, of all  races and background, to sound the trumpets of change”. This quote demonstrates Pathos because he is inspiring his audience. The evidence has the power to inspire because he’s telling people of all races to stand up and fight for change.

When humans realize that they can no longer find a reasonable solution, they turn to violence. Many historical figures as well as people from this era believe that the only way to fix a conflict, is throughout violence. Cesar Chavez believed in spreading awareness towards his supporters and to everyone around him, showing that there are other solutions to problems. Throughout the passage, Chavez uses casual relationship to explain the causes and effects between violence and nonviolence, straightforward language, and repetition to state his perspective on how violence does not resolve anything. Cesar Chavez was a man that helped change the lives of many lower class farmworkers.

In “He Showed Us The Way”, Cesar Chavez uses a rhetorical question, metaphor, and an allusion to explain and persuade to the readers that non violent resistance is the best way to gain support and to be heard.

An example of this strong diction is shown within the first sentence; he uses the word "power" to describe the advantage nonviolence had within King's life and civil rights movement, which showed that nonviolence can convey results and victory. He continues the article to say life is precious and should not be squandered on violent actions that will receive even more violence in return and if results are given they will only be false and filled with resent. Chavez states that nonviolence attracts people's support for the cause especially when violence is given in return. Even though they use nonviolent Chavez understands the workers by using words such as these to show the farmer's “feelings of frustration, impatience, and anger" but to win with violence is in Chavez's words a “shortcut to change". The entire article is filled with Chavez's feeling and ideals and morals that is shown with all these powerful words to get his point across that violence is not the answer and the way to receive change is to use nonviolent

In the excerpt, by Cesar Chavez the author argues that fighting with violence is not the answer. The intended purpose of the article is to inform the people of a better and safer way to fight. Through the use use of diction and imagery the Chavez appeals to to emotion and exemplifies the significance for change. Chavez’s use of diction helps encourage people to fight for change. In the article he stresses how, “nonviolence is more powerful than violence.”

The Civil Rights Movement, led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., played a massive role in American history and it did so not through a revolution of savagery, but one of peace. The right to peaceably assemble for change has always been a staple in American society, defined as a right in the first amendment to the Constitution, ensuring that everyone could protest and call for peaceful action without being persecuted by the government. In 1978, Cesar Chavez wrote an article addressing the usefulness of “nonviolent resistance,” especially referring to Dr. King’s Civil Rights Movement. His usage of juxtaposition, logical fallacies, and unifying diction assist in Chavez’s attempt to drive the point that nonviolent resistance is the greatest way to

The comparison of violence to nonviolence highlights Chavez’s argument that nonviolence is the only way to achieve positive results. Chavez characterizes violence as a temporary solution in which “people suffer.” This description of violence as a last resort that results out of frustration is in stark contrast to Chavez’s characterization of nonviolence. Nonviolence stems from oppression. It is exercised as a form of self-determination