Rhetoric, the art of speaking, is vital in everyday life. Whether it's convincing others of her worth like Sojourner Truth does in "Ain't I a Woman" or engaging with a broader audience like Martin Luther King Junior in his "I Have a Dream”, rhetoric plays an important role. because it is the key that opens the door to self-expression. Without this, no one would be able to convey their message or convey a thought. A silent world, lacking communication, would then emerge. Trust would not be present because there would be no words to convince those close to him of his sincerity. Appropriate diction and syntax must be used so that everyone can effectively get others to share their beliefs, or at least respect them. Language allows equality to be established. People tend to raise or lower their personalities in order to put themselves in a more equal position with their audience. Queen Elizabeth's exordium in "Address to the Troops at Tilbury" is "my loving people." The fact that she chooses these words rather than something less formal makes the audience more willing to listen to her. The fact that she is queen, therefore possessing power and authority, requires her to become one of the troops in view of her social status. Likewise, Truth shifts positions to get his point across, but starting with "well, kids" to express himself in a more superior light. A matriarchal figure represents strength and knowledge and that is what Truth wanted to create. By giving the impression that she was superior, she actually established a similar rank with her audience. Because one is more willing to listen to someone similar to them in terms of status, it is imperative that they be... middle of paper... a truly smarter person. Subconsciously, we make better decisions and know who to trust, because words suddenly become that much more important. Everything said is now analyzed to determine its validity. Ultimately, the rhetoric is significant in several ways. This creates an environment in which two parties can interact and express their beliefs, while establishing equality. Truth and Elizabeth had to convince another group of people, not quite on their social level, of something that meant so much to them. The only way they could do this was by using proper diction. Rhetoric makes us a better speaker and a smarter listener because not only are we able to convince people, but we are also able to separate facts from a sea of ​​lies. Understanding rhetoric helps one become a well-rounded person, becoming both contributor and beneficiary..