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Edwards appeals primarily to the emotion of fear. List specific examples from the speech where Edwards tries to scare his audience. Are these fear appeals effective in converting people? Why or why not?
Edwards uses the emotion of fear to persuade his audience and accept his message converting them. In fact, Edwards repeatedly refers to fear to back up his message. For instance, he frightens his audience with the prospect of the judgment day and horrors which are traditionally associated with this day. Moreover, he attempts to persuade the audience that ignoring his message and disobedience to basic Christian norms is against the will of God, whereas the violation of the will of God implies inevitably certain punishment, which people may be even unaware of. At first glance, such appeals to fear are effective because audience keeps being frightened is ready to follow the lead of Edwards but, in a long-run perspective, the use of this technique is not very effective because people need to have faith grounded on their good will not fear to follow the lead of Edwards.
5. How does Edwards target children in his speech?
Edwards targets children in his speech using fabulous narration, adding in the mystery and a sort of fairy tale to his speech. In fact, he uses a simple language comprehensible to the mass audience and the introduction of mysterious elements makes his speech interesting and involving children. At the same time, Edwards uses vivid images to describe horrors of disobedience to God and to his teaching that naturally affects children consistently because they are not prepared to resist to a serious psychological pressure and fear turns out to be one of the strongest emotions that define their actions and way of thought.
At the same time, it is important to lay emphasis on the fact that the author appeals to children in order to get adults involved in the message he attempts to convey. To put it in simple words, he influences the audience through children. On the other hand, he targets at children specifically to catch their attention and to convey his message to them at the comprehensible level. At this point, it should be said that the development of the speech leads to numerous references to children. In fact, Whitefield appeals to his audience as children, who need his advice and assistance. As a result, children feel being closely integrated into the audience and they perceive the message of Whitefield at the personal level as if he appeals to them directly.
Furthermore, Whitefield targets at children to strengthen his persuasive strategy because adults tend to agree with the author and accept his message, when they see that children accept the key ideas of Whitefield and accept his message. In fact, Whitefield uses parental affection to children as a tool to make his speech more persuading and acceptable for the audience. It proves beyond a doubt that such persuading strategy is very effective, taking into consideration the fact that the speech is delivered to the audience which appreciates highly traditional family values and does not admit the possibility of the violation of traditional social and cultural norms. In addition, adults simply do not want to lose their face, when the speech becomes comprehensible and acceptable for children, adults cannot stay aside and deny key ideas of the message because they are afraid of looking as if they are too shallow to understand the message of Whitefield.
6. How is Edwards’ message similar to the messages of contemporary persuaders (e.g., advertisers, politicians, preachers, etc.)? Explain your answer with examples from your own experience.
Edwards’ message is similar to messages of contemporary persuaders. For instance, he appeals to children and uses children to get involved their parents. The same technique may be traced in the contemporary advertising when a product is advertised to catch the attention of children and it is through children advertisers attempt to influence the decisions taken by parents because often parents cannot resist to the pressure from the part of their children and buy a product or do what their children want them to do.
As the matter of fact, the speech of Edwards is similar to contemporary persuaders because he uses similar strategies and techniques. First of all, he attempts to catch the attention of his audience and then persuade the audience in the correctness of his position. The same technique is used by contemporary persuaders. For instance, when I look ads I see that, at first, they catch my attention with a tricky question or any other tool. After that ads offer the solution to the problem they pose at the beginning. Furthermore, some ads stress technological advancements and improvements of the subjects to be advertised. Similarly Edwards shocks the public and after that he stresses the advantages and benefits of the solution he offers to people. In such a way, he converts the audience and to persuade people that the way he offers to go is the best and the only way they can go to avoid horrors he describes.
7. Contrast each speaker’s view of God’s ability to do harm or good.
Whitefield lays emphasis on the God’s ability to God. He stresses that God is good and people should obey to God’s will to get the God’s mercy. In contrast, Edwards frightens the audience and depicts the God as a superpower that can cause irrevocable harm not only to the body but also and mainly to the soul of worshipers. In such a way, Whitefield shapes a positive thinking in his audience, whereas Edwards evokes a strong fear in his audience. Obviously, the approach used by Whitefield is more effective in a long-run perspective because worshipers start believing in goodness of God and expect certain rewards even if Whitefield does not promise rewards to worshipers directly.
Whitefield appeals to the reason and good expectations in the audience. For instance, he promises salvation and good afterlife for people who convert to Christianity and follow Christian principles and norms. Edwards shocks the audience with the promise of the judgment day and lack of salvation for non-believers and non-Christians.
8. Contrast each preacher’s view of humans generally.
Whitefield views humans as free but not always wise. This is why humans, according to Whitefield, need the guidance of God to make the right choices and to lead a virtuous life. In contrast, Edwards views humans as evil creatures, who are inclined to commit evil acts if they are not controlled and virtually terrorized by preachers and priests, who have to keep worshipers under control by means of fear.
Whitefield does not impose his opinion on the audience. Instead he guides the audience appealing to people’s reason and promising a better life. Edwards, in contrast, controls the audience through examples of punishment people can suffer in case of disobedience.
9. While Whitefield interprets a Biblical narrative, Edwards inflames people with his fiery rhetoric. As an audience member, which approach would be more effective for you?
The approach used by Whitefield is more effective because it helps to understand the sacred texts, whereas the approach used by Edwards affects rather emotions than mind. Therefore, on a profound reflection, Edwards’ approach will have little effect on the audience, when emotions of people calm down.
The narrative aids understanding through the provision of specific examples, like the judgment day, or the reference to the example and actions of Apostle Paul. In such a way, the audience understands better the message of the authors.