Antithesis In Political Speeches

Placement of contrasting ideas close together is called "antithesis." Antithesis was used frequently in the speeches at the Democratic and Republican national conventions. "Double antithesis", placement of two ideas in one clause and their contrasting ideas in the corresponding positions of the next clause, is particularly useful for comparing oneself to one's opponent. Let's take a look at a few examples of antithesis as heard at the conventions.

Barack Obama: ... I will stop giving tax breaks to corporations that ship jobs overseas, and I will start giving them to companies that create good jobs right here in America.

Hillary Clinton:...government must be about "We the people" not "We the favored few."

Hillary Clinton:[We don't need] more war and less diplomacy.

John McCain: We were elected to change Washington, and we let Washington change us. [This is actually an example of "chiasmus," reversing the order of words, but some people have called it ABBA antithesis.]

John McCain: I will keep taxes low and cut them where I can. My opponent will raise them. [Double antithesis: "I" vs. "My opponent" and "keep taxes low" vs. "raise them." I can't resist noting that McCain must not have been talking to the 95% of the population whose taxes Obama wishes to lower, but to the richest 5%. Of maybe McCain doesn't believe Obama.]

John McCain: Now, my opponent promises to bring back old jobs by wishing away the global economy. We're going to help workers who've lost a job that won't come back find a new one that won't go away. [Two examples: "my opponent promises..." vs. "We're going to..." and "a job that won't come back" vs. "a new one that won't go away."]

Antithesis works very well for a little effort. Try it in your own speeches.

By: Thomas Christopher

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THOMAS CHRISTOPHER offers more information on his web page on how to write witty T-shirt captions . He created a web T-shirt shop, WittySelfExpression.com, as a place to apply rhetorical techniques.