Throughout the article, Bitzer talks about what exactly a rhetorical situation is. He first clarifies that the definition is not a mere translation of persuading an audience to change their opinion. In fact, he clearly states that the rhetorical situation gives rise to the discourse and therefore is the basis of the speech. He demonstrates this with the fisherman example. The leader is force to speak, the discourse, after he felt the need to give a command in order to make the hunt successful, the situation. In this case the need for success made the leader speak out to the other hunters, the audience. Through this exmaple, he defines rhetorical situation as “a rhetorical discourse comes into existence as a response to a situation.” It is the exigence, or the subject, that is being presented by the author. He mentions that the situation leads to the exigence which also determines the audience and the view to be changed. Bitzer also states that the situation can predict how the discourse will be argued. For example, after JFK’s assassination the discourses to come were clear and would address the safety of future presidents. Another point he makes is that the exigence presented by the author can be argued by another critic. If an author made the point that the assassination is indeed a threat to other presidents, a critic can make a counterargument of it being totally irrelevant. Bitzer also talks about the importance of structure. The situation is the base which leads to the exigence, followed by the audience and constraints. If these are not well connected, the author cannot strongly execute his point and therefore fail to connect with the reader.

This whole process just seems to be a cause and effect. Like dominoes, they all effect one another. If one part of the process is not done properly, the rest of the pieces will fall out of place. This matter makes me think and raises a question if it is possible to change the order of the process under any circumstances. It would be interesting to prove Bitzer wrong and try to find a discourse that gives rise to a situation.

Emma watson’s speech

Exigence- Global gender equalization between men and women.

Audience- males to be ones to start the process

Constraints- the term feminism may seem too strong to people as “anti-men”, some people will not let go of old beliefs that put women below men.