"Serve The People" Speech by Mao Zedong

Purpose: Uniting china, communist or not, to work for the better of china; use soldier's memorials to come together as well as mourn the death. 

Audience: The people of China; the attendees of the memorial meeting for Chang Szu-teh.

Context: Took place directly under the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, on September 8, 1944--about 5 years prior to the communist take over after winning their civil war. 

Section 1 Comrade Chang Szu-teh and Death

Purpose: Quickly states the dedication of the Communist party including Comrade Chang Szu-teh. Introduces the idea of death, specifically the significance of someone's death varying. If you die for the people its weightier than dying for the fascists. 

Effectiveness: Works well to make the Communist party look good and trustworthy in this time of losing someone as well as making Szu-teh death look heroic. 

A. Chang Szu-teh/Communism

Appeals: Pathos- "wholly dedicated to the liberation of the people and work entirely in the people's interests" Also Szu-teh being one of the battalions that passed. 

Technique: Very positive connotation of the Communist party. (Previous quote) 

B. Death

Appeals: logos-- uses a quote of an ancient Chinese writer Szuma Chien. 

Technique: Metaphor, juxtaposition, and parallel structure that creates an antithesis--the weight of someone's death

Section 2 Uniting 

Purpose: Not being afraid of criticism, working with outside parties to fix problems, we need everyone in China to come together and unite as a whole. Using the memorials of fallen soldiers to unite. 

Appeals: Logos-- when they listened to Li Ting-ming (not a communist). Ethos-- stating that they already lead 91 million people. Pathos- "Chinese people are suffering, it's our duty to save them" "must care for each other, must love and help each other" talking about death as well. 

Technique: 

• Imagery-- "We hail from all corners of the country..."
• Metaphor-- "Pluck up our courage"
• Connotation-- respectful and united: "must care for each other, must love and help each other"

Effectiveness: Works well, Mao gets his message across, as a reader you feel united as though you lived in China at the time. Works all the appeals in there for a good message. 

General Evaluation:

Mao uses very little rhetorical devices in his speech. In a way this becomes a rhetorical devise in order to really get his message across. The short speech was straight forward and got to his points, he only needed a few to add to the inspiration of his message. He does this well because his biggest rhetorical device of the antithesis sets a serious but positive mood to what he has to say.