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Laura Campbell
Dr. Margret Sullivan
English 1102
8 February 2013
Rhetorical Analysis of William Faulkner’s Acceptance Speech
for Winning the 1949 Nobel Peace Prize in Literature
What is the substance that makes a piece of literature so prominent from others? Is it that
which leaves us with more knowledge? Curiosity? Crossing emotions? In William Faulkner’s
acceptance speech for the 1949 Nobel Peace Prize, he used ethos and pathos to remind us of the
effect written words have. On December 10, 1950, at a banquet in Stockholm, Faulkner delivered
his speech ineffectively. Though, with his quiet southern accent and wavering tone, Faulkner’s
words have not been forgotten. In his speech, Faulkner pushes young writers not to just write
about common tragedies man experiences but of the emotional capabilities of the human spirit.
Faulkner stated, “the young man or woman writing today has forgotten the problems of the
human heart in conflict with itself which alone can make good writing because only that is worth
writing about, worth the agony and the sweat.” He makes an excellent point; one chooses to read
great literature because it evokes indescribable feelings in the reader that are only influenced by
the writer’s words.
Within the very first few sentences spoken by Faulkner, ethos is present; he opened up as
a humble man: “I feel that this award was not made to me as a man, but to my work -- life’s
work in the agony and sweat of the human spirit, not for glory and least of all for profit, but to
create out of the materials of the human spirit something which did not exist before. So this
award is only mine in trust.” It is widely know how high of an honor the Nobel Peace Prize is,
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and Faulkner only saw this award as confirmation that his work had made a progression in the
world. He even took his speech as an opportunity to continue to reach out to writers.
Throughout the speech, ethos continues to show with how direct Faulkner’s faith is in
man’s potential to be heard. Contrary to the poor way Faulkner presented them, his words are
those of a true leader, “I believe that man will not merely endure: he will prevail. He is
immortal…” Faulkner repeatedly used the term “inexhaustible” to describe man’s voice
supporting his perception of man being immortal. It is odd to think of how strongly Faulkner
writes about man’s “inexhaustible” voice when his own giving the speech is almost inaudible to
the audience.
“The poet’s, the writer’s, duty is to write about these things (compassion, sacrifice, and
endurance). It is his privilege to help man endure by lifting his heart, by reminding him of the
courage and honor and hope…” From these quotes one can see so much of Faulkner’s moral
character and how his own work is influenced.
Faulkner succeeds in using pathos by getting the audience to feel the passion he has about
his own work. Faulkner wanted to make the audience see what is necessary in life through his
perspective. Faulkner did so by noting the widespread paranoia shared in their current period of
time after World War II, in which nuclear technology was being constructed. He boldly said,
“There are no longer problems of the spirit. There is only the question: When will I be blown
up?” He spoke of how it was a tragedy that physical fear was the only problem on the minds of
the people during that time. Faulkner’s intentions of his statement were to make the audience feel
taken-aback. He wanted to stir up their emotions, open their ears and minds to what should be
written about.
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Faulkner’s speech consisted of “something which did not exist before” which was what
he wanted to instill upon the young writers to write about. Faulkner’s acceptance speech delivery
was not effective, but of course being the winner of a Nobel Peace Prize for literature, his written
words were unforgettable. Faulkner’s speech illustrated his character, his feeling toward his
work, and the impact he hoped to have on young writers. He did so by using the rhetoric devices
ethos and pathos effectively. Faulkner ended his speech with words, which summed up his
speech entirely: “The poet’s voice need not merely be the record of man, it can be one of the
props, the pillars to help him endure and prevail.”