The Rhetorical Situation
A rhetorical situation is any circumstance in which one or more people employ rhetoric, finding
all the available means of persuasion. Speakers and writers who use rhetoric are called rhetors.
Exigence
All rhetorical situations originate with an exigence. The exigence is what motivates a rhetor to
argue in the first place. Why does the rhetor need to make this point? What will this argument do
for the world?
Examples of exigence:
A congressman delivers a speech arguing that we need stricter gun control. The exigence is that
the congressman believes stricter gun control will lead to less gun violence.
A pastor writes and delivers a eulogy at a funeral. The exigence is that it is customary to reflect
on a deceased person’s life and accomplishments.
A defense attorney argues before a jury that her client is innocent of murder. The exigence is that
it is the defense attorney’s job to ensure that her client—even if guilty—receives a fair trial.
Audience
All rhetors write or speak for an audience, the body of listeners or readers—real or imagined—
that the rhetor is arguing to. There are two kinds of audience:
Immediate audience: the individuals literally listening to or reading the rhetor’s
argument. For example, in the president’s State of the Union address, those hearing the
address (representatives, senators, people watching from home, etc.) are the president’s
immediate audience.
Mediated audience: the individuals for whom the argument is intended. These
individuals may or may not actually listen to or read the rhetor’s argument. For example,
in the State of the Union address, all American citizens—even those not tuning in to the
address—are the president’s mediated audience.
Constraints
Rhetorical situations are based on the relationship between the rhetor, the audience, and the
subject matter, but they are also based on various constraints that not only affect how the rhetor
argues but how the audience interprets the argument. Common constraints include:
