Like everyone else, I really enjoyed reading about Cicero's focus on pathos; his insistence on the importance of appealing to the audience's emotions definitely strikes a universal and contemporary chord. It seemed very psychological, as though Cicero were trying to invade the brains of his audience, which is another instance of audience dictating the success of rhetoric and the influential role they play in the relationship between them and the orator."Now nothing in oratory... is more important than to win for the orator the favor of his hearer, and to have the latter so affected as to be swayed by something resembling a mental impulse of emotion" (328). While he continually makes references to mental reactions, does he think about the psychological reaction? Is there a difference between the two? I wonder what Cicero would have to say after taking Psych 101.
While he appeals to his audience on a deep emotional level, Cicero tends to treat his audience as one collective body, rather than as individuals. "... I scent out with all possible keenness their thoughts, judgments, anticipations, and wishes, and the direction in which they seem likely to be led away most easily by eloquence" (329). How does he do this if each audience member is different, as there is no possible way that each individual member of the audience harbors the same values and ideas? By drawing on overarching, general themes? By picking out one or two values (love, hope, or jealousy, to name a few from page 333), that are seen as universal to all? We can never satisfy every single person in our intended audience, though the talented Cicero sure makes us believe so in De Oratore.
Molly,
ReplyDeleteI thought it was interesting that you approach the role or rather affect the audience has from a different angle. I definitely see the psychological lens you're applying to this and can definitely see how the orator or rather purpose of a good orator is to move their audience; however, I'm struck with his use of "mental impulse of emotion," this is something I suppose I didn't catch prior. As for your collective audience comment, I thought it was interesting in terms of his homogenising qualities. Is this an oversight from the orator, or does it even matter so as to move his audience? It's interesting how Cicero doesn't address those who have different interests and how to reach them on an emotional and psychological basis.