Rhetorical Power

Throughout history and literature, leaders have emerged and wielded great power over
their country. In World War II, totalitarian leaders such as Stalin and Hitler have wielded such
power. Totalitarian leaders had full control over the country they ruled including their social lives
and their thought. Power is effectively used when rhetorical strategies allow leaders to gain
control over people, causing people to become manipulated for the benefit of the leaders.
Bandwagon is in rhetorical strategy that is seen when leaders are in power. Animal Farm,
written by George Orwell, is a satire based off of Stalins rule in the Soviet Union. Napoleon
(who is Stalin) brought forth traitors who he executed and, Demanded whether any other animal
had anything to confess tale of confessions and executions went on (Orwell 93). Because
the few were put forth, the many also came. Bandwagon is a clear reason why leaders gain
effective leadership with the execution of any opposition. Leaders and businessmen use
bandwagon to achieve their goals. In Joseph Hellers Catch-22, Lieutenant Milo Minderbinder
urged others to follow his syndicate selling and purchasing produce and goods. He always
claimed, ... syndicate, owned a share (Heller 193). With Milo explained a complex system, few
followed, and more people began to follow Milo. With the power of bandwagon, Milo
Minderbinder was able to build a large empire. Bandwagon was used by Napoleon and Milo to
gain power and manipulate people to do what they want.
Pathos, or emotional feelings, is used to gain power and influence others. As Adolf Hitler rose
to power, he used pathos to gain power. Specifically, he put fear into people. In 1944, a photo
was taken of Jews on a selection ramp in Auschwitz. Hitler used fear to force others to
submission to him. With fear, Hitler gained full control over Germany and eventually, most of
Europe. Hitler's reign was not the only time pathos was used to gain power. Ellie Wiesel, a

Holocaust survivor, wrote Night to describe the terror he felt as he struggled to survive. He
describes, ... S.S. men, who circled us with machine guns and police dogs (Wiesel 40). The
Nazis instilled fear into the people who were not to be among the aryan population. Without fear,
the Germans would not have control over the people. With many human emotions, or pathos,
leaders have been able to control people bringing manipulation.
When leaders are in control, they appeal to the ignorant people. Before he came control in
Germany, Hitler was imprisoned after failing to overthrow the German prime minister. While he
was in prison, he wrote a book about his struggles and how he would lead Germany back to its
former glory. Hitler once quoted, How lucky for those in power that people don't think (Adolf
Hitler). Hitler took advantage of the ignorant and simpletons of Germany. With this, Hitler
gained more power over the people of Germany. Hitler was not the only totalitarian leader who
appealed to the ignorant. Stalin also took advantage of the ignorant when he was in power. In
Animal Farm, Boxer was a hardworking horse that was loyal only to Napoleon and always had
His two slogans, I will work harder and Napoleon is always right... (Orwell 75). Boxer did
not listen to the other animals and was easily swayed in Napoleons favor when he was skeptical
about something. Stalin (Napoleon) manipulated the loyal and hardworking people to gain power
and allowed effective leadership with blind followers. By gaining control over the ignorant,
leaders are able to manipulate and use people for their own gains.
In history and literature, rhetorical strategies allowed leaders to gain power and
manipulate people. In modern society, advertisements use rhetorical strategies such as
bandwagon to sell a product by saying everyone does it. Politicians may appeal to the ignorant to
gain power and maybe better society when they are in office after a few months or years. The

advertisements and the politicians effectively use rhetorical strategies thus allowing them to be
effective leaders and manipulate.

Works Cited
Adolf Hitler. Xplore Inc, 2016. 11 May 2016.
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/adolfhitle109950.html

Heller, Joseph. Catch-22. New York: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, 2004. Print.

Jews on the selection ramp at Auschwitz. May 1944. 11 May 2016.

https://www.ushmm.org/information/ exhibitions/online-features/special-focus/theholocaust-in-hungary

Orwell, George. Animal Farm. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1945. Print.

Wiesel, Elie, and Marion Wiesel. Night. New York, NY: Hill and Wang, a Division of Farrar,
Straus and Giroux, 1988. Print.