Judy Councell Essay 2 Prompt A : 1964-1979 Margaret Thatcher, an important political figure in the history of Great Britain, was

majorly influential and well known for her black-and-white worldviews. This characteristic surfaced in many of her speeches, regarding her even today as a powerful and persuasive speaker. In 1976, the time during which the speech, Britain Awake was delivered, Mrs. Thatcher was cognizant of the Soviets impending disregard for the dtente endorsed via the Helsinki Accord in 1975. In this speech, she addresses both Britain and NATO with powerful rhetoric and succinctness as she advises a bolstering of their defense systems. An understanding of how her masterful use of voice and firm views on foreign policy persuaded a change in Great Britain is also helpful in understanding similar issues in todays contemporary society. The context of this speech lies well within the international struggle of Capitalism and Communism. In 1975, the attempt of the Helsinki Accord to appease some of the Cold War tensions was clear, although the amount to which it was effective was seen in the following year. Thatcher addresses the attempts of Russia and its Soviet satellites in 1976 to implant naval bases in the Republic of Angola. The implication of this tactic was seen by Thatcher as an attempt to gain a foothold, a means of Communist proliferation via a strategic naval location. Thatcher knew that this was not for self-defense, but as a way to set out on world dominance. In response, Thatcher attempted to rally Britain to strengthen their defense budget, which she points out to be notoriously low. Even more important is the fact that the bitter experience of Vietnam has changed the public mood in America. Thus, Thatcher argues, it is more vital then ever for Britain to reinforce their defense budget and system. Thatcher made clear to the people that the while Russia did not appear as a competitor economically, militarily

they were becoming a super power. Despite the powerful sense of pride she instills within the message of this speech, however, its most impressive facet is Thatchers use of rhetoric and other literary tactics. What makes a great speech arguably depends on the circumstances in which it is given. For Thatcher, the intended feel of this speech is one of persuasion. To be effectively persuasive then, one can reasonably conclude that the most important literary tactic is that of a strong, declarative voice. In addition, Thatchers stark use of opposites to create contrast and transition keep the speech convincing and help it to flow logistically. Finally, as her topic of discussion is one of great seriousness, a strategic use of humor within the speech is vital in holding the interest of and providing relief for the audience. Thatchers immediate usage of commanding language allows no room for unease within her audience and it declares an undeniable confidence in the subject matter. As no person looking to be persuaded will be satisfactorily persuaded with weak, passive language, Thatcher is never seen to use any language of the sort. We must and Let us are her primary declarative words of choice, and they are undeniably effective. The Conservative Party must now sounds the warningLet us ensure that our children will have cause to rejoice that we did not forsake their freedom.

By also combining these commanding phrases with contrasting phrases, Thatcher ensures that her message is not only persuasive, but also memorable. Examine in the following quote how she achieves these characteristics, while allowing the speech to move forward. I would be the first to welcome any evidence that the Russians are ready to enter into a genuine dtente. But I am afraid that the evidence points the other way. The way in which she speaks clearly illustrates her view on the subject, both by clarifying her position and acknowledging the Soviets stance. Also, her ability to move from positive to negative points illustrates not only her knowledge; it allows her to appear calculated and evenhanded.

In the speech, Thatcher is not only challenging the Soviets, but the Labour party of Britain as well, who were in power at this time. She utilizes a criticism of the party as part of a humorous statement. If there are further cuts, perhaps the Defense Secretary should change his title, for the sake of accuracy, to the Secretary for Insecurity. This use of humor seems typical of Thatcher; she was always looking for laughs. By poking serious fun at the Labour party, she perhaps made herself more endearing, which is known to be an effective tactic for serious, persuasive speeches such as this one. Thatcher is also incredibly statistical in her presentation of ideas. For example, examine her rhetoric when discussing the relative defense budgets of particular Allied nations. On defense, we are now spending less per head of the population than any of our major allies. Britain spends only 90 per head of defense. West Germany spends 130Even neutral Sweden spends 60 more per head than we do! By employing this statistical data in such a declarative fashion, she allows no room for disagreement from her opponents or doubtful audience members. It is likely that her overall use of language caused her audience members to feel that an increase in defense budgets was an obvious choice. Thatcher refrains from backing into her own points, and overall, these tactics led to a powerfully persuasive speech. The speech Britain Awake is over thirty years old, and yet it still holds a powerful message for the contemporary societies of today. While the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, and Communism along with it, Communism is still present in quite a few countries. Thatcher presents the importance of Allied relationships in resisting Socialism, a mind-set that is still shared among a number of Capitalist societies. Yet perhaps the most important aspect of this speech is the woman behind it. After the speech was given, Thatcher was given her infamous nickname, The Iron Lady, and just

three years after this speech, was elected as the first female Prime Minister. Examining how Thatcher overcame male stereotypes with, among other things, her very non-feminine and powerful way of speaking is inspirational even today, in a world where sexism is still arguably at large. Just by comparing the U.K.s spending in their defense departments from 1970 to 1980, a rise from 2.8 to 13.5 million pounds, one can conclude that Thatchers speech was indeed effective. Her choice of words and literary rhetoric embraced the policy and pushed it forward with little hesitation. These skills, coupled with her extensive knowledge on the subject, probably helped to safeguard her future career as Britains longest running Prime Minister in history. Even today, her legacy offers a story of triumph and determination unmatched by most female politicians.

Sources Thatcher, Margaret. "Speech at Kensington Town Hall ("Britain Awake") (The Iron Lady)." Margaret Thatcher Foundation *. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 June 2012. <http://www.margaretthatcher.org/speeches/displaydocument.asp?docid=102939>.