Pentadic analysis incorporates five basic elements of drama called pentads. These include act (what is being done), agent (who is doing the act), agency (the means employed by the agent to do the act), scene (the backdrop against which the act occurred), and the purpose of the action (the reason why it happened). Act is the artifact itself whatever it may be such as speech, poem, monument, event, etc as it stands for what is actually being done or happening. Agent refers to the main communicator of the artifact which could be an actor, orator, writer or manager of the act. Agency refers to the main medium of communication which includes a book or televised film, presentation or personal communication. Scene is the backdrop against which the action occurs including the actual, physical scene and the context in which something happens and is meant to be understood. Lastly, purpose is the motive or the message which is conveyed and understood.
Pentadic analysis has its roots in Burke's Theory of Dramatism which looks at life as a play where symbols and language are used to express thoughts as a way for humans to comprehend the reality of the world. Burke developed this theory as a way to attempt to understand the bases of human conduct and motives. Thus, the purpose of a pentadic analysis addresses the content of what is being done and what are the motives of a certain artifact as crafted by a rhetor.
Burke believed that ratios interconnect important terms and map out a clearer picture of the underlying intentions or motives in a situation. Act-scene and act-agent are the most commonly used for rhetorical criticism. Act-scene shows that the act can not be fully understood without taking the scene into account as the backdrop against which it happened. Act-agent highlights the importance of the agent on the act and shows their relationship of mutual dependence.
The name of the artifact I have chosen is Barack Obama’s speech “A More Perfect Union” in Philadelphia during the election race, published on March 18, 2008 for the purpose of conducting a pentadic analysis.
This analysis will attempt to discuss the reasons underlying the rhetorical choices made by the orator in his speech, the motives he was guided by and what he actually said or did.
Act
The act refers to what is being done and this quite simply incorporates the contents of the speech and the way they are presented. In this speech, Obama was responding to the great attention garnered by the highly sensationalist comments of the Reverend Jeremiah Wright who was, until recently, his pastor and an active member of his campaign team. The contents of the speech included talk on the sensitive and controversial topics of racial tensions which existed across different ethnicities and races in United States, the white privilege which implies that white people enjoy many privileges at the expense of the hardships experienced by the colored people, inequality and justice, framing his speech against the wider spectrum of the issue of race which exists in the United States. It speaks out boldly about the ‘original sin of slavery’ which led to the creation of concepts of racial superiority and inferiority, bigotry and fixated stereotypes which have fed our national psyches till today. Even while condemning Reverend Wright’s racially discriminatory remarks, he yet attempts to not exactly defend, but portray him in a softer light as a man who introduced him to his Christian faith, presided over his wedding, baptized his daughters, and taught him many good things. In this regard, he speaks about the many stereotypes which are heard in normal life, the fixed notions which are wrong but uttered without any conscious ill will as they have become embedded in our mindsets. He also mentions his mixed heritage and the impact it has had on his support and in the elections with people continuing to view and judge him in light of his race, rather than his abilities and actions as well as the way race and racism define the worldview of many who grew up with their dreams vanquished and opportunities snatched at the altar of racial discrimination. However, he stresses that the important issues which afflict the country ultimately do not discriminate between color or race but affect us all and the only way to counter them is to stand united, work together, achieve harmony and achieve a true state of the union.
Obama’s speech has all the ingredients which would appeal to the American public, from all races and colors. It is ironic that his own profile of mixed race is what would initially attract viewers from across the color spectrum to listen to his speech, but Obama also utilizes this in his speech by mentioning it not as a score point but as a fact of our national psyche. His attempts to address the issue of racial discrimination and grievances of both blacks and whites strikes the right note, being empathetic, respectful and honest, he does not alienate any group. His words addressing the challenges and problems currently afflicting the United States attempt to create cohesion by showing the commonality among Americans of all races and how important it is for them to achieve unity. His beginning words which speak about the Declaration of Independence and what it represented for America and all of her citizens is especially powerful in creating a picture of a common history and a shared vision.
Agent
Obama is the agent, being the orator of the speech. It is not merely his candid words but also his frank and manly style in publicly addressing topics which had previously been brushed under the carpet that mark him as a superb orator. The oratorical resonance of parallel constructs also stands out to further improve his delivery style. It has been the opinion of many that Obama’s speech sounds much better than it reads. The pace, rhythm and tone in delivery create a rhythm and flow which is not found in the text of his speech. The personal touch added to it as Obama weaves himself in the narrative or racial background and racism is also quite effective. In addition to the references to history, Obama also incorporates stylistic touches borrowed from great political leaders and orators from the past to make his oratory more powerful. The choice of words which immediately strike a chord with the public helps him connect instantly with his audience. In addition, a delivery which marks each phrase as weighty, each ideal as lofty, each grievance as important and each dream as worthy, in short, his ability to reach out to the people and show himself to be a part of them is what makes him draw the people to himself. His intonation, emphasis on certain words and subtle pauses help him highlight the points he really intends to strike home.
Agency
Agency refers to the medium through which the message is delivered. Obama’s speech was delivered directly to many, some saw it on television, some heard it on radio and some read it in the newspaper. For those who saw it on television, the combination of the body language, facial expressions and gestures was powerful enough to draw the viewers in and make them understand, respect and trust the man who was one of them, talking to them and wanting to work for them. His posture including the way he stood or leaned in to the people, his use of eye contact and facial expressions also displayed great strength, conviction and confidence. Hands are extremely powerful tools and his use of gestures such as open palms to draw the people in, joined fists to show his ideas of the unity of the people, thumping the desk for emphasis and show his strength were all important indicators of his inclination and moods. For many who heard it on the radio, the effect was not quite as powerful without the live spectacle. For those who read the speech, it was said to make some good points but incline a little towards insipidity. Thus, television was the strongest medium as his speech appeared much more powerful while being viewed and heard instead of just being read.
Scene
The rationale behind the speech was to counter the Jeremiah Wright controversy and to display his stance and attitude towards racial issues and racially antagonizing language. It was meant to provide the background on his history with Wright, show his opinion on Wright personally and on racial issues and race in general. This worked as it allowed him to portray his take on key but controversial issues with utmost honest to the public. The background of the speech was the Independence Hall, where the famous Declaration of Independence was signed by the Pilgrims who came to live in a place where there would be unity, freedom and tolerance. This particular scene was created to show the common history which the people share as a way of unifying them by linking them to the past and the shared vision which their ancestors had by making them understand that however racial divisiveness may segregate them and racial discrimination alienate them from each other, their problems and their dreams to overcome the problems still remain the same. By using Philadelphia, with the Independence Hall standing as a reminder in the backdrop, Obama attempts to recreate the same spirit and unity which marked the pilgrims.
Purpose
The purpose of the speech was to make the people understands that their main identity is not mired in ethnicities, races, religions, colors and castes but in their common nationality of being Americans. Obama attempts to clear his own stance on racial discrimination. But in the larger context, he tries to bring the people together and attempt to foster a feeling of unity, courage and enthusiasm in them, to make them look at the broader picture and the long run. An Obama was also attempting by this speech to emerge as a key political player, a powerful orator and a person who had the power and charisma to attract the masses across all segments of the society. Judging by the positive reviews and praises Obama received and the fact that his speech was widely viewed heard and read as well as shared on social networking sites and youtube Obama was successful in achieving his objectives. Lastly, Obama was attempting to pacify the white voters so as not to alienate them and his victory at the ballot is proof of his success on that score.
Pentadic Ratio: act/scene Obama’s words can not be fully understood nor the power of their meaning fully comprehended without understanding the context. His words of the racial tensions, discrimination and tensions have their roots in the history of slavery and oppression of blacks. They also represent a slight to the struggle and vision of the pilgrims as they signed the Declaration of Independence. In the immediate context, the speech was set against Reverend Wright’s remarks which has hurt and offended many.
Act/agent
Without Obama’s oratorical style, the speech would definitely not have been such a great a success. Thus, the agent is what made the act powerful.