Question

In a well-constructed response, explain how Carrie Chapman Catt, the author of “Address to Congress on Women’s Suffrage,” demonstrates the use of kairos in her speech to the U.S. Congress. Be sure to use details from the text to show Catt's mastery of kairos in her speechmaking.

Answer 1

Answer:

Find the explanation and details from the text below.

Explanation:

'Kairos' is a word with Greek roots and it connotes the idea of the opportune time or the right time for something to be done. Carrie Chapman Catt made extensive use of this type of speech in her address to Congress in November 1917. Below are details from the address to highlight this.

1. "Woman suffrage is inevitable. Suffragists knew it before November 4, 1917; opponents afterward": Catt began her speech with the words above. The inevitability of the suffrage movement was something Catt knew would always happen for even though the proponents of the movement, knew this before her speech was delivered, opponents of it would soon come to realize it after her speech. She gave three reasons to back this idea. One of them would be mentioned below.

2. "Second, the suffrage for women already established in the United States makes women suffrage for the nation inevitable". Catt here meant that it was time to institute women's suffrage because the United States is a  democratic nation, therefore, it is just not possible to have undemocratic policies applied to one section of the nation.

3. " "There is one thing mightier than kings and armies" -- aye, than Congresses and political parties -- "the power of an idea when its time has come to move." The time for woman suffrage has come.": This was a clear case of the use of Kairos by Catt for here she clearly stated that the time for women's suffrage which has been inevitable all along, had finally come.