The Rhetoric of Hitler's Battle

                Kenneth Burke writes in response to the ideas and opinions Hitler conveys in his book Mein Kampf; furthermore, Burke uses rhetorical analysis to not only analyze the book but also to address its questionable ideas. Burke breaks Hitler’s writings down into different blocks of information and ideas, and after doing so he uses metaphors and reasoning to break down Hitler’s argument against the Jewish people. Post-war Germany was a wreck. The government and economy were almost non-existent and the people were left in poverty without guidance. Hitler identified this problem and uses his book to provide the people with a scapegoat, the “medicine” they needed to become great again. Burke looks at how Hitler used pathos to connect strongly with his audience, the depraved citizens of a war torn Germany. Mein Kampf cleverly conveys the Jewish people as a disease or villain adversely affecting “Aryans”; at a time when disease and war were the most prevalent killers these images tugged on the right emotional strings to stir the German people. Moreover, Hitler utilizes ethos and conveys himself as a strong leader ready to save them, like a doctor curing a disease.

            Propaganda, young or old, tends to retain followers and support forever. This support lasts much longer than one would think because propaganda uses the power of emotion and the despair many feel when faced with different situations to illuminate a group, person, or cause. The cause is usually portrayed as a savior or problem solver; propaganda provides people with what they think they need a strong powerful leader. Propaganda does not target a small group of individuals; rather, it targets large populations of people all sharing a common grievance and in need of someone or something to make their lives easier and happier. Ethos, logos, and pathos are all applied because together they will draw in the largest most diverse group of individuals willing to support for whatever reason.