Audience and Purpose (VCE SSCE English): Revision Notes

Audience and Purpose

Understanding the speech's context

Emmeline Pankhurst delivered her famous speech Freedom or Death on 13 November 1913 at Parsons Theatre in Hartford, Connecticut. At this time, Pankhurst was in exile from Britain, having fled the Cat and Mouse Act, which allowed authorities to repeatedly imprison and release suffragettes who went on hunger strikes. She spoke to an American audience who were already sympathetic to the suffrage cause, using this opportunity to achieve multiple interconnected goals.

Pankhurst's speech had a dual focus. On one level, it was a practical fundraising effort during her time in the United States. On another level, it sought to build global solidarity for the suffrage movement. Her rhetoric was carefully crafted to resonate with American audiences whilst defending and promoting the militant tactics used by British suffragettes. The speech aimed to transform passive sympathy into active support for what Pankhurst described as civil war tactics.

Who was Pankhurst speaking to?

Primary audience: American suffragists and sympathisers

Pankhurst spoke to approximately 2,000 people gathered at the theatre. This primary audience consisted of several key groups, all of whom were already inclined to support women's suffrage to varying degrees.

The audience included educated and affluent women who were part of active suffrage organisations like the Connecticut Woman Suffrage Association. Connecticut was considered a suffrage hotspot, and many of these women had been inspired by their own partial victories. By 1913, eight American states had already granted women the vote, creating a sense of momentum and possibility.

Progressive men also formed part of the audience. These men were receptive to reform ideas and many were familiar with radical American activists. Pankhurst deliberately addressed them directly, asking questions like "What would you do if you were a leader of men?" This technique personally implicated male audience members, making them feel responsible for taking action rather than remaining passive observers.

Pankhurst skilfully flattered her American audience by referencing their revolutionary heritage. She reminded them: "You won your freedom by bloodshed... through seven years of civil war," positioning Americans as natural allies who understood the necessity of fighting for liberty. By suggesting that Americans had "left it to the women" to continue this fight for freedom, she created a sense of shared mission across the Atlantic.

Within this primary audience, there were also important sub-audiences. Potential donors were crucial, as the tour successfully raised thousands of dollars for the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU). The media formed another sub-audience, as newspaper coverage would amplify Pankhurst's message far beyond those physically present. Additionally, she addressed wavering constitutionalists—suffragists who supported the cause but felt uncomfortable with militant tactics and needed convincing that violence was justified.

The Hartford crowd already knew about Pankhurst's imprisonments and suffering, which heightened the emotional impact of her words. This context gave her tremendous credibility and authority.

Secondary and wider audiences

Pankhurst's words reached far beyond the Hartford theatre audience. The British government and officials formed an important indirect audience. Her speech would be reported in the transatlantic press, allowing her to taunt Prime Minister Asquith's regime and publicise the success of tactics like hunger strikes. This put pressure on British authorities from an international direction.

Global suffragists constituted another wider audience. Movements in Australia (where women had gained the federal vote in 1902, though with limitations) and other countries drew inspiration from Pankhurst's leadership and rhetoric. Her speech demonstrated international solidarity within the suffrage movement.

Finally, posterity itself became an audience. The speech's transcription has endured as a protest archetype, studied by later generations seeking to understand effective protest rhetoric. Pankhurst anticipated opposition from anti-suffragists who labelled her "hysterical," and she preempted this criticism by embracing her outlaw status: "I appear as a criminal," thereby subverting stigma into strength.

What were Pankhurst's purposes?

Persuade audiences that militancy is legitimate

Pankhurst needed to convince her audience that violent protest tactics were not only acceptable but necessary. She built her persuasive case by cataloguing the failures of peaceful methods. She described how traditional approaches like "meetings... useless" had achieved nothing, proving the "desperate necessity" of more extreme action.

To strengthen her argument, Pankhurst drew parallels with male precedents. She referenced both the American Revolution and contemporary figures like Edward Carson (who had threatened armed resistance in Ireland). Her point was clear: men had always used force to achieve political change, so why should women be condemned for doing the same? She stated bluntly: "You cannot make any effective change unless... prepared to go to any length."

This persuasive purpose relies heavily on logical reasoning (logos). By showing that peaceful methods had failed and that men routinely used violence for political ends, Pankhurst constructed an argument that militant tactics were not hysterical or irrational but were instead a calculated and necessary response to oppression.

Justify the ethical boundaries of violence

Whilst advocating for militancy, Pankhurst was careful to establish moral limits. She needed to distinguish suffragette violence from terrorism or mindless destruction. Her justification centred on a key principle: "human life is sacred." The suffragettes targeted property, not people, using destruction to create economic pressure on the government whilst avoiding murder.

Pankhurst contrasted this carefully limited violence with the British government's own brutality. She described force-feeding as "torture," highlighting the hypocrisy of authorities who claimed moral superiority whilst inflicting genuine physical harm on women. The genius of the hunger strike tactic, she explained, was that it turned the government's violence back against itself: "You can kill that woman, but she escapes you." Either the government released prisoners (appearing weak) or let them die (appearing murderous).

This justification relies on ethos (establishing moral character and credibility). By demonstrating that suffragettes had clear ethical principles and that their violence was more restrained than the government's, Pankhurst positioned the movement on the moral high ground.

Mobilise practical action and support

Ultimately, Pankhurst needed her audience to do something concrete. The speech's title phrase—"Freedom or death"—functions as an ultimatum, a call to action that demands a response. She urged audiences to provide funds and to advocate for the British suffrage cause within America.

Pankhurst made appeals to justice, arguing that gaining the vote would unlock further reforms. She mentioned issues like sweated labour (exploitative working conditions) and custody biases (laws that disadvantaged mothers). By showing that suffrage was connected to broader social justice, she gave audiences multiple reasons to support the cause.

She also raised the stakes to a global level, warning that "Civilisation recedes" without a British victory. This dramatic language suggested that the suffrage struggle was not just about one country but about human progress itself.

How did Pankhurst tailor her rhetoric to different audiences?

Pankhurst demonstrated sophisticated audience awareness by adapting her language and techniques for different listener segments.

Techniques for connecting with audiences

Inclusive contrasts were a key technique. Pankhurst frequently used phrases like "You men... we women," which simultaneously flattered American men by treating them as potential allies whilst also challenging patriarchal assumptions. This created a sense of guilt-inspired alliance, making men feel they should support women's equality.

Rhetorical questions personalised the message. By asking "Now, I ask you..." and similar questions, Pankhurst forced audience members to mentally engage with her arguments rather than passively listening. These questions implied that reasonable people would agree with her position.

Shared values formed another important strategy. War metaphors suited audience members who were ex-soldiers or who valued military courage. Liberty allusions echoed 1776 and the American founding, making the British suffrage fight seem like America's unfinished business. This cultural mirroring made Pankhurst's cause feel familiar rather than foreign.

Vivid pathos shocked genteel middle-class listeners into urgency. Graphic descriptions of prison conditions and force-feeding tubes disturbed comfortable audiences, making the suffragettes' suffering feel real and immediate.

Oral adaptations made the speech effective as a spoken performance. Repetition and anaphora (repeated phrases) aided memorability. The escalating tone, moving from confessional to triumphant, suited theatre acoustics and converted hearers into advocates ready to take action.

Different appeals for different groups

Audience segment	Tailored appeal	Purpose alignment	Example quote
American women	Solidarity and emotional connection	Mobilise donations	"You have left it to the women"
Progressive men	Logic and historical pride	Persuade of legitimacy	"You won by bloodshed"
Media and opponents	Defiant credibility	Justify globally	"Soldier... convict"
Global readers	Universal justice principles	Inspire movements worldwide	"Freedom or death"

This table demonstrates how Pankhurst crafted specific appeals for each audience segment whilst maintaining her core messages. For American women, she built solidarity through shared gender experience. For progressive men, she appealed to their sense of historical legacy and logic. For hostile media and opponents, she defiantly embraced her criminal status to establish credibility. For global readers and future generations, she articulated universal principles of justice.

What impact did the speech have?

Immediate effects

The immediate reception was extremely positive. Pankhurst received standing ovations, and donations surged. The American press praised her eloquence and courage, which boosted morale amongst British suffragettes who were enduring the 1913 arson campaign—a period of escalating militant action.

Long-term influence

Over time, the speech galvanised international support that put diplomatic pressure on Britain. This contributed to the eventual enfranchisement of some women in 1918 (women over 30 who met property qualifications) and full equality in 1928. The speech's transcription has endured as an exemplar of audience-aware protest rhetoric, studied in contexts like VCE English.

Why does this matter for protest writing?

Pankhurst's speech models how to tailor protest rhetoric to sympathetic audiences. Rather than simply preaching to the converted, she actively worked to convert passive sympathy into active support. The combination of flattery (acknowledging shared values) and urgency (demanding immediate action) proved highly effective at bridging divides and mobilising bystanders.

Exam tips for analysing and creating texts

When analysing Freedom or Death

• Identify specific audience segments Pankhurst addresses
• Link rhetorical techniques to the three-fold purpose (persuade, justify, mobilise)
• Use quotes to support claims about audience targeting
• Explain how techniques create different effects for different listeners
• Consider both immediate and wider audiences

When creating your own persuasive texts

Additional practical considerations:

• Name and explain your rhetorical choices explicitly in creating tasks
• Aim for 800-1000 words in timed conditions
• Use precise British English spelling throughout