Role Play Rhetors

            The pieces by Douglass and Willard really helped me to witness the transition of rhetoric into more modern times.  Though the instances being discussed are by no means of my time, their utilization allowed me to apply some of the traditional rhetoric we’ve learned thus far into subjects I have been learning about since secondary school.  Obviously Douglass’ piece focuses primarily on the abolitionist movement, but we begin to see some elements of the prohibitionist ideal creep into Willard’s.  Douglass honed in on a number of specific ways to win over an audience, while Willard offered suggestions of how to organize a public meeting, focusing on the woman’s role in such matters.  Each author had a few key contributions to my understanding, highlighted below.

            Douglass seemed amazed in his description of Garrison’s persuasive abilities, stating, “[f]or a moment, he possessed that almost fabulous inspiration, often referred to but seldom attained, in which a public meeting is transformed, as it were, into a single individuality—the orator wielding a thousand heads and hearts at once, and by the simple majesty of his all controlling thought, converting his hearers into the express image of his own soul” (1076).  This reminds me of our early rhetoricians who relied on oratory as primary to the power of persuasion.  In this instance, persuasive ability of the orator would have to be pretty significant considering what he was asking of the crowd.  Even though they shared similar ideas of abolishing slavery, they would still have to go against many of their own countrymen in order to further such a controversial cause.  Douglass was right to be amazed.  Garrison took on quite a feat and it was only the beginning.
          I first read Willard thinking she was a man and initially felt Woman and Temperance was grossly condescending.  After realizing she was in fact a woman, I decided I enjoyed the piece for what it was.  In an attempt to connect with other women, some perhaps more educated than others, Willard spoke openly about how the women of the W.C.T.U. should conduct themselves in the most effective way considering the position they held in greater society.  Without having any knowledge of said committee beyond this short bit of text, I felt like Willard was pretty thorough on just what these women should be doing to make some progress amongst each other.  She said, “while we cannot hope to avoid these calamities in the present partially developed condition of woman’s work; while it is doubtless true that girls now acquiring the systematic training of our public schools and colleges will make the more efficient officers of our future work, it is nevertheless possible for us to secure, in a majority of instances, excellent services from the good women of the present” (1140).  I like how Willard expects these women to at the least work with what they’ve got and not get too distracted by the idea of expanding their role.  Progress eventually presents itself with less talking and more action.  Though Douglass is seemingly better known by our generation, both played a pivotal role in their respective discourses.