Motive, according to Burke, is a mental decision taken by the rhetor that shapes the emphasis of the key aspects of rhetoric. A rhetor, based on their specific motive, will emphasize or hide certain aspects of an event to more effectively persuade an audience. Burke notes that these motives leave ambiguous areas in rhetoric for the sake of persuasive power. His pentad focusses on the relationships between the act, scene, agent, agency, and purpose surrounding the piece of rhetoric. These relationships are determined by the rhetors desired result, and are often stilted between one or two key relationships that will highlight that which is most convincing and hide that which might detract from the rhetors purpose. It does not “avoid ambiguity, but clearly reveal[s] the strategic spots at which ambiguities arise” (Burke 217) so that rhetors and audience’s alike can more easily identify implicit motives. It is necessary that a rhetor also evaluate their use of rhetoric to look for underlying motives that could be used more effectively to persuade their audience or address their
Motive, according to Burke, is a mental decision taken by the rhetor that shapes the emphasis of the key aspects of rhetoric. A rhetor, based on their specific motive, will emphasize or hide certain aspects of an event to more effectively persuade an audience. Burke notes that these motives leave ambiguous areas in rhetoric for the sake of persuasive power. His pentad focusses on the relationships between the act, scene, agent, agency, and purpose surrounding the piece of rhetoric. These relationships are determined by the rhetors desired result, and are often stilted between one or two key relationships that will highlight that which is most convincing and hide that which might detract from the rhetors purpose. It does not “avoid ambiguity, but clearly reveal[s] the strategic spots at which ambiguities arise” (Burke 217) so that rhetors and audience’s alike can more easily identify implicit motives. It is necessary that a rhetor also evaluate their use of rhetoric to look for underlying motives that could be used more effectively to persuade their audience or address their