The King’s Speech, Essay Example

Based from King George VI’s Speech on 1939: Broadcast, Outbreak of War in Germany

Since the speech was broadcasted over the radio, it could not be denied that it was the tone of the voice of the king that made all the difference to the meaning of the speech he was presenting depending on how his people would actually interpret what he was telling them. Utilizing the direct talk card approach, the King presented to his people the actual situations that their country and their countrymen should be prepared for. On the introductory part of the speech, the King was careful enough to point out why there is a necessity for the proclamation of war against Germany. To get the appeal of his listeners, he made sure that they understand the reasons behind his decision and why such a decision is practically the best option to take. Hoping to get their attention, he aims to make it certain that his listeners would be able to understand the situation from his standpoint. Through saying:  “this message, spoken with the same depth feeling for each one of you as if I were able to cross your threshold and speak to you myself”, the king aimed to reach the listeners and assure them of his presence, making them rather feel secured that they are being taken care of by their leader and that his decisions, like that of the father’s is necessary to protect their values and their life.

Pointing out that his desire to establish the war is to create a more organized system of connection and correlation between Britain and the world, he wanted to impose on his listeners how the war is a mere necessary step to take; something that is evidently important to be able to put everything back into its proper place. He calls out to their national allies through giving them a glimpse of a better future once the war is over; however, it is evidently important that the war be established and be completed as it is one that is unavoidable for the sake of reaching their goals as one nation and as allied communities. TO further define his point, he mentions: “far more than this, the peoples of the word would be kept in the bondage of fear, and all hopes of settled peace and of the security of justice and liberty among nations would be ended”. Through these lines he points out that the war is necessary to end all the possibilities of losing everything else, the organization, the systems of development and everything else that the nation has long been toiling for. Amidst all the possible chaotic situations that may come, the king did not fail to provide his people with a better vision of what is to come ahead once the war has been won. Like a father to his children, the king approached his speech as if he was explaining how a ‘bully’ could be taught a lesson. He points out how the lesson could be presented, how it could be handled and what specific results could be garnered from a determined stand of putting things into a better state and making more effective ways of treating a ‘bully’ as someone who needs to be disciplined and not as an enemy. Germany, during the time, was aggressive enough to take on the different areas of the world, from one nation to another, to set out a huge empire, one that would put their nation ahead of all the others. This dream has put them in an aggressive mode that they are ready to take on even that of the huge sectors of the world such as that of Britain. Considerably, this bold move needed to be responded to. Although Britain was living quite a fair way of living before, the King knew that he, as the leader, as the nation’s father, should make a stand. Even he feared to face the situation at first, he was also terrified to even present his speech because of particular speech problems, nevertheless, his determination to save what could be saved out of his nation and his people motivated him to take a step forward and present his decision to the public.

Another considerable concept he used in the speech is the way he presented the facts about what was to come about. He warned his people, as if preparing them for the consequences of the war, he mentions: “I ask them to stand calm, firm and united in this time of trial. The task will be hard…but we can only do the right as we see the right and reverently commit our cause to God”. Fervently asking his people to remain calm amidst the chaotic situations that were to happen once the war breaks out was a distinct characteristic on the part of the king as he tries to give his people the strength they need to face all the trials that are to come ahead. He knew that fear would be part of the process and that his people would need all the strength they need to face the situation as one nation, aiming to embrace victory in the end. He did not assure that the war would be won. In his speech he further mentions: “war can no longer be confined to the battlefield”; this indicates how he does not want to give his people some false hopes over the victory they aim so much to incur. Nevertheless, it could be analyzed that with the empowerment and motivation that he uses in his speech to provide his people the moral support they need to face the trials that the war would bring, it could be noted how he tries to create a more secure community, a more unified nation that would stand against the battle with full confidence on how they are likely to take on the challenge of determining the course of the war. With his desire to give attention to what his people might feel, what they might be thinking about what would happen to Britain after the war, he creates a rather concrete vision of what lies ahead and how if they remained determined would result to the victorious end of the war on their part. The lack of colorful words in the speech makes certain that the message of the king was direct and should be taken seriously by the people. Given the fact that he has speech problems, the idea of getting into the phonograph recorder and making sure that he makes life coverage into the homes of his people as he personally addresses them with the current situation of the nation, makes such a speech served with more depth. His consistency in addressing the people as if he was talking to them directly makes his message more personal and appealing to each one possibly listening to him as he breaks to the public a probably bad news that could take them into a different situation; one that is apart from what is comfortable for them and yet they are asked to accept the transformation that will be brought about by the war years.

References

Historic Royal Speeches and Writings. https://www.royal.gov.uk/pdf/georgevi.pdf. (Retrieved on April 22, 2014).

George VI, King of Great Britain. http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/g/george_vi_king_of_great_britain/. (Retrieved on April 22, 2014).