Coach Boone is trying to get his players to overcome racism and play as a team. He has taken them to a battle field in Gettysburg. He compares their struggle over racism to the north and south fighting in the Civil War. In essence the Civil War was fought over slavery, which according to coach is "the same fight that we're still fightin' amongst ourselves today." Madeleine points out that this was particularly powerful to the players because it was there own heritage. It was the segregation they were dealing with everyday. This effectively brings it home for the players.
With strong language and careful word choice he stirs the emotions of his players. They don't want to suffer the consequences of their forefathers, with "smoke and hot lead pourin' through their bodies." Madeleine explains how using colors like "green field" and "red blood" adds to the mental picture. In addition to this, I think that by using words such as "hallowed" Coach Boone makes the players feel like they are fighting this fight for some higher cause. It appeals directly to their consciences.
The coach puts it to the sticking place in his closing remarks. If they don't come together they will be destroyed --physically and spiritually. If they do come together, he says that "maybe [they'll] learn to play this game like men." This subtle insult to the players is insinuating that they don't play it like men already. Just like a little child reacts in defiance to an a insult, the players want to prove they are men. How do they do it? On the football field. How did Coach Boone do it? By appealing to their emotions.
(This speech was also analyzed by Madeleine)
This is a really good post. I especially appreciate your close reading of the phrase "maybe they'll learn to play this game like men"
ReplyDeleteMy biggest criticism is that you don't use Madeleine's analysis at all. In order to prepare for the Issues Paper, you need to practice interacting with what someone else has already said about the piece. In this case, maybe you could refer to the work she does setting up the context of the scene, for example.