How does Kennedy’s word choice affect the tone and meaning of this excerpt from the passage? While the wall is the most obvious
and vivid demonstration of the failures of the Communist system, for all the world to see, we take no satisfaction in it, for it is, as your Mayor has said, an offense not only against history but an offense against humanity, separating families, dividing husbands and wives and brothers and sisters, and dividing a people who wish to be joined together. The phrase “obvious and vivid” sets an aggravated tone and suggests Kennedy is weary of standing up to communism. The phrases “brothers and sisters” and “joined together” suggest a peaceful tone and highlight the need for cooperation with communists. Repetition of the word “offense” develops an angry tone and emphasizes the destructiveness of communism. Repetition of the word “dividing” creates a frustrated tone and suggests Kennedy is prepared to take action against communists.
The excerpt provided in the question belongs to a speech President Kennedy gave in West Berlin on June 26th, 1963. The President's word choices such as "failures", "world to see", "obvious", "offense against humanity" "dividing" help to set the tone and meaning of his speech. Kennedy addressed the audience in Berlin, but also the world, to express the support given by the United States to West Berlin against the wall that the Soviet Union had built. He uses repetition, for example with the word offense, to give a clear message on how the communist system is attacking the freedom of the world and of all of Berlin's citizens, and how democracy is the only solution to the separation of families and communities that want to be together.
