ANALYSIS OF LIN-MANUELS COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS

Rhetorical Analysis of Lin-Manuel Mirandas

Commencement Address at Wesleyan University
Judy Muller
COMM 302, Section 01
State University of New York at Fredonia
December 14, 2015

ANALYSIS OF LIN-MANUELS COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS

Introduction
Lin-Manuel Mirandas new musical Hamilton has changed and paved the way for future
Broadway shows. He combines hip-hop, rap, and musical theatre style music to tell the story of
one of the first founding fathers, Alexander Hamilton. In this speech, Lin-Manuel Miranda
communicates with college graduates as they prepare to move on to a new chapter in their young
lives. Throughout this speech, he uses persuasion to tell his audience to live their lives and to
never throw away their shots. Campbells Feminine Style theory supports Mirandas argument
that if the perfect opportunity comes to someone, they should take it. This research will also
focus on the historical-context, Feminine Style theory itself, and implications of this research.
Historical-Context
Many Latinos and African-Americans face oppression every single day of their lives.
They are not hired for certain jobs, they experience police brutality more than Caucasians do,
and they do not get to endow themselves in their own cultures. After he graduated from high
school, Lin-Manuel Miranda went straight to Wesleyan University. In his sophomore year,
Miranda moved into La Casa, a Latino off-campus residence, living with eight other firstgeneration students (Mead, 2015). Miranda stated, This was for real my first time making
friends with Latino kids (Mead, 2015). Roberta Medda-Windischer (2009), discusses how
immigrants seek to stipulate greater recognition of their identities and greater adaptation of their
cultural practices enabling them to participate in schools like Wesleyan.
On a vacation in Mexico with his wife, Miranda began to read Ron Chernows eighthundred page biography on the life of Alexander Hamilton. Miranda was very interested and
engaged in Hamiltons early life. He saw Hamiltons relentlessness, brilliance, linguistic
dexterity, and self-destructive stubbornness through his own idiosyncratic lens. It was, he

ANALYSIS OF LIN-MANUELS COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS

thought, a hip-hop story, an immigrants story. Hamilton reminded him of his father (Mead,
2015, February). His father, Luis A. Miranda, Jr., moved to the United States from Puerto Rico,
when he was only eighteen years old. He moved to New York City to pursue a graduate degree
from New York University much like Hamilton, who moved from the Caribbean to New York
City and pursue a scholarship to Kings College (now Columbia University) in order to further
his education. This inspired Miranda to write his hit new musical Hamilton (Mead, 2015).
The portrayal of the founding fathers is enhanced by the casting of African-American and
Latino actors in the roles of the white founders, an acknowledgement that the revolutionary
world was more diverse than we think. It works, and it works well (Chadwick, 2015, pp. 6667). Lin-Manuels audience for his speech included an empirical audience of people on the
Wesleyan campus. On the campus, college students were graduating; parents, guardians,
teachers, and other faculty members were attending the commencement ceremony as well.
Others exposed to the speech included social media users, Wesleyan alumni and other/current
Wesleyan Students.
Unfortunately, many people in the United States still have extremely traditional racist
views. Many of these citizens strongly follow politicians such as Donald Trump and Mike
Huckabee. These kinds of people happen to interfere with Lin-Manuel Mirandas position as
well as his beliefs. Hamilton is primarily an African-American and Latino based cast, which does
not help market the show to people who still exhibit traditionalist views. According to Moreno
(2015), in the past Donald Trump has tweeted, Sadly the overwhelming amount of violent crime
in our major cities is committed by blacks and Hispanics-a tough subject-must be discussed.
According to Nelson (2015), To be sure, political leaders at all times and in all places will do
what they must to please supporters and constituents who place their selfish fears and interests

ANALYSIS OF LIN-MANUELS COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS

ahead of the need to maintain rational government. By contrast with most of his contemporaries,
Hamiltons defiant candor, which sometimes amounted to tactlessness, often made him and his
policies more enemies than friends. When Mike Huckabee was explaining his opposition to
same-sex marriage, he responded saying that he does not drink, swear or listen to classical music
or opera. Its not my cup of tea (Mead, 2015, September). Huckabees campaign has been
characterized by a tone-deafness masquerading as real talk, as when last month, he criticized the
Black Lives Matter movement for elevating some lives above others. (Mead, 2015,
September). Hamilton, with its predominantly black and Latino cast, exposes and detonates the
privilege that underlies attitudes like Huckabees. (Mead, 2015, September).
Feminine Style
Campbell begins the explanation of her theory by defining rhetoric in her own words. She
states that, Rhetoric is the study of the means by which symbols can be used to appeal to others,
to persuade. (Campbell, 1989, p. 2). Campbell states that rhetoric itself is a craft. When the
learning of the so-called craft is applied to the rhetorical situation, it constructs discourse with
the characteristics of the theory (Campbell, 1989, p. 13). The characteristics include personal
tone, which means that rhetoric is learned directly from the rhetor. Personal experience is another
characteristic that lets the rhetor relate his or her story to their respected audience. Personal
experiences are defined as disclosing personal information and including personal feelings and
involvement (Danette, 2005, p. 11).
Feminine Style is also structured inductively which means crafts are learned piece by
piece, instance by instance and therefore generalizations appear (Campbell, 1989, p. 13).
Audience participation is then encouraged, and it includes the process of testing the
generalizations against the audience. Audience participation is a subject that frames a statement

ANALYSIS OF LIN-MANUELS COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS

of purchase (Introduction, p. xi). Audience members are addressed as peers. They are recognized
with authority based on their personal experiences. Audiences are also known as agents of
change. Agents of change should target those who have the power to act, those with the political
ability, the economic power, the numbers, or the social influence to alter the situation (Campbell,
Huxman, Burkholder, 2015, p. 201). Efforts will be made to identify the experiences of the
audience that is described by the speaker/rhetor. Campbell states that the goal of rhetoric is to
empower audiences (Campbell, 1989, p. 13).
Rhetorical Analysis
This speech is for determined individuals who are capable of taking on a challenge or
opportunity. However, Miranda tells his audience to seize opportunities like Hamilton himself or
Burr, as they heard their morality ticking like a clock from a young age. The question is: how can
people relate to Hamilton or Burr? Why can they relate to two known historical figures? The
real achievement of Hamilton is its deep, multi-level portrayal of the flamboyant secretary of the
treasury, whose genius created the financial system that has been the foundation of this country
for 226 years (Chadwick, 2015, pp. 66-67).
The first characteristic of Feminine Style is personal tone, which Miranda uses
throughout his entire speech. By using personal tone, it allows Miranda to relate his story to his
audience (Miranda, 2015). Many students intend to go to college majoring in one thing and
sooner or later they drop, switch, or add on a major. Miranda relates to the graduating students
by saying, I came to Wesleyan intending to double major in theater and film, but I fell in love
with the instant gratification of student theatre. Youre telling me I can write something in the
fall, apply to Second Stage, get a budget and put it up in the spring?! I am not throwing away my
shot! (Miranda, 2015).

ANALYSIS OF LIN-MANUELS COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS

Miranda also uses personal tone to show how he struggled, but came to find his identity
through his time at Wesleyan. Manuel struggled to connect with his Latino roots as he grew up,
but when he moved into La Casa, he finally felt at home with Latinos who attended Wesleyan.
Many of the people who lived at La Casa were also in the same situation as Lin-Manuel: most of
their parents were immigrants. Seeing his parents stories as well as other immigrants stories
inspired him to write Hamilton. The lyrics to the song My Shot, from Hamilton really tie in
with the theme of minorities and immigrants hoping for better chances at life. I am not throwing
away my shot. And yo, Im just like my country, Im young, scrappy and hungry and I am not
throwing away my shot. Ima get a scholarship to Kings College The problem is I got a lot of
brains but no polish. I gotta holler just to be heard with every word, I drop knowledge (Miranda,
2015). Thus, they want schools to provide more information about the immigrant experience;
work-places to accommodate their religious holidays or traditional dress; government agencies to
provide health care and welfare benefits in a way that are culturally sensitive; and so on
(Medda-Windischer, 2009, p. 1). Mirandas use of personal tone shows the power of Campbells
Feminine Style of rhetoric (Campbell, 1989).
Miranda wants others to be inspired by him and his experiences while he attended
Wesleyan. Mirandas attitude toward the subject is very hopeful, inspirational, as well as
motivational. Here, he sounds hopeful, Sophomore year For the first time in my life, I have
Latino friends my age who understand me. Whole sections of me open up to these friends, parts
of me previously reserved only for my family, and I begin drawing on my Latino heritage in my
writing for the first time. The result? An 80-minute one-act musical, called In the Heights. I am
not throwing away my shot. The eighty-minute one-act musical later turned into an award
winning Broadway show. This also ties in with evidence, Two seniors, John Mailer and Neil

ANALYSIS OF LIN-MANUELS COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS

Stewart, see the production and tell me, We love it. Were forming a theatre company when we
get out of here. Will you call us in two years when you graduate? I put In the Heights in a
drawer for two years. Wait for it, wait for it, wait. Evidence is the different kinds of support
material for the thesis. I do not study abroad my junior year. I have too many plays I have
agreed to work on! I am not throwing away my shot! (Miranda, 2015). Lin-Manuel Miranda
shows that personal experience lets him relate his or her story to their respected audience.
Not only is he using audience participation, but he is also using his personal experiences
to relate to the graduates at this commencement speech. Audience participation addresses the
congregation as peers. Their authority is recognized based on their own personal experiences. He
also has a good use of humor while tying in audience participation. In the beginning of his
speech he states, Im going to sing a little bit, so if you made a bet that Id be rapping during the
commencement address, your friend owes you money. Or points. While watching the speech,
many graduates laughed when he said this. Miranda uses humor as a strategy to engage his
audience in the commencement address.
Its suggested that Lin-Manuel encourages audience participation throughout this speech
with his choice of words. He states in the beginning of his speech, Once youve declared a
major, read the requirements for your major often. Are you good? Read it again. Are you good??
Are you sure?? Let me speak for the parents who may need to pay for that extra semester:
Double check. (Miranda, 2015). Miranda has also established credibility on the campus. He
relates to the graduates, who we can assume are very scared, Graduating class of 2015, my dear,
exhausted graduates, senior week is over. The people who love you are behind you taking
pictures and ready to cheer for your name. The U-Haul is rented and waiting your things,
because you didnt pack. Your time here is up. If you feel like I felt on graduation day, right now

ANALYSIS OF LIN-MANUELS COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS

your stomach is a volatile cocktail made of relief, regret, pride and coco-berry freeze. (Miranda,
2015). Campbell (1989) notes that audience participation is crucial in her theory. Miranda
proves this in his speech because he encourages audience participation in order to show the
audience that everyone can make a difference.
Lin-Manuel Mirandas speech starts out with an introduction, some personal experiences
while he attended Wesleyan University, quotes from his musical Hamilton, more personal
experiences, comparisons between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr, more quotes from his
musical and a conclusion. Another characteristic of Feminine Style is structuring a speech
inductively. Miranda suggests his structuring sticks to this theme. His speech is structured in the
way the materials are organized to gain attention, develop a case and to provide emphasis to their
thesis. Miranda welcomes everyone, and proceeds to give the graduates some post-freshman
advice, and then dives right into his thesis. He then mentions the two clocks, as Miranda does
not want his audience to miss their shots. He then relates two famous historical figures and how
they heard their mortality ticking from a young age. Miranda then raps lyrics from his musical,
Dont be shocked when your history book mentions me. I will lay down my life if it sets us free,
eventually youll see my ascendency, and I am not throwing away my shot. I am not throwing
away my shot. Hey yo, I am just like my country: I am young, scrappy and hungry, and Im not
throwing away my shot! At the end of the speech he says, That clock you hear is the sound of
your own heart. Sink your teeth into this life, and dont get let go. (Miranda, 2015). Campbell
says that structuring speeches inductively will help the audience learn from the rhetor.
Audience members are also established as something called agents of change. This
targets those who have the power to act (Campbell, Huxman, Burkholder, 2015, p. 201). In this
case, the agents of change are the students that are graduating that Miranda is speaking to. These

ANALYSIS OF LIN-MANUELS COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS

agents of change are those who can change their views as well as other peoples views. These
agents are hopeful post-graduates venturing out into the real world as soon as they leave their
campus.
Miranda suggests that he wants his audience to face the obstacles that stand in their way
and change the world after hearing his speech so others will do the same. That is his thesis.
Miranda explains that everyone should not let life pass them by. Throughout the speech, he used
persuasion to tell his audience to live their lives to the fullest. If someone has the opportunity,
they should grab it. Opportunities will come and go. Certain individuals will wait for the perfect
opportunity. In other words, individuals want to be ready and capable or even settled down in
order to take on a challenge or opportunity. Sometimes, someone cannot wait for the perfect
opportunity in order to do something. And a lot of the times, no one will be completely ready
for these challenges. Individuals should not be throwing their shots away. Many people in this
world today should be grabbing chances and taking risks. I wish I could tell you that the key to
life beyond Wesleyan was as simple as saying to yourself, I am not throwing away my shot. To
be like Hamilton, to charge forward and chase what you want. But in reality, it took eight years
of hard work to take that 80-minute one-act from Second Stage into the version that opened on
Broadway. Eight years for the guy who fell in love with theatre because of the instant
gratification. (Miranda, 2015). Campbell mentions in her theory that it is important for
audience members to act on the powers they have in order to make a change in the world
(Campbell, 1989).
Implications
Campbell described Feminine Style as the outgrowth of crafted learning experiences that are
familiar to females in Western (traditional) cultures (Dow & Wood, 2006, p. 248-249). Feminine

ANALYSIS OF LIN-MANUELS COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS

10

Style is a great theory to use to analyze Lin-Manuel Mirandas commencement speech. Many
scholars have applied and qualified this theory to many contemporary situations (Dow & Wood,
2006, p. 249). Through analyzing this paper, this research is proving that the use of the Feminine
Style theory can be applied to many different varieties of speeches. By analyzing Lin-Manuel
Mirandas speech it is showing that there could be further research on Campbells Feminine
Style. Mirandas speech mostly consists of personal experiences, audience participation, and
identification between the rhetor and the audience. Miranda also relates what its like to grow up
Latino and finally explore his culture with other people besides his family. He not only persuades
the audience through his tone and experiences, but he encourages the audience to participate and
make a change in their lives, to never throw away any of their shots.
Conclusion
Through this research, Campbells Feminine Style theory proves and supports LinManuel Mirandas argument that if the perfect opportunity comes to someone, they should take
it. Miranda communicates with college graduates as they prepare to move on to a new chapter in
their young lives. Throughout this speech, he uses persuasion to tell his audience to live their
lives and to never throw away their shots. Mirandas use of personal experiences and audience
participation are key in the findings of this research. Lin-Manuel Mirandas new musical
Hamilton has changed and paved the way for future Broadway shows. He combines hip-hop, rap,
and musical theatre style music to tell the story of one of the first founding fathers, Alexander
Hamilton. Hamilton is changing Broadway shows in the way Miranda hoped it would, just like
this speech he is addressing has to these students (Miranda, 2015). College students may be very
doubtful of their current career paths. If students listen to this speech, they may become more
hopeful for the future of their careers.

ANALYSIS OF LIN-MANUELS COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS

11

References
Campbell, K. (1989). Introduction. In Man Cannot Speak For Her (Vol. 1, pp. 1-15). New York,
New York: Praeger.

Campbell, K., Huxman, S., & Burkholder, T. (2015). Challenges Arising From the Audience. In
The Rhetorical Act (Fifth ed., pp. vi, 198-227). Belmont, California: Wadsworth Pub.

Chadwick, B. (2015, December 1). Alexander Hamilton Is Back With a Roar. American
History, pp. 66-67.

Danette, I. J. (2005). Feminine style in presidential debate discourse, 1960-2000. Communication

Quarterly, 53(1), 3-20.

Introduction. (1993). In H. Hein & C. Korsmeyer (Eds.), Aesthetics in Feminist Perspective (p.
Xi). Indianapolis, Indiana: Indiana University Press.

McGowan, A. (2015). Campbells Theory of Feminine Style [PowerPoint Slides]. State

University of New York at Fredonia.

Mead, R. (2015, February 9). All About the Hamiltons. The New Yorker.

Mead, R. (2015, September 25). Why Donald Trump and Jeb Bush Should See Hamilton. The
New Yorker.

ANALYSIS OF LIN-MANUELS COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS

12

Medda-Windischer, R. (2009). Historical Minorities and Migrants: Foes or Allies? Retrieved

October 20, 2015.
Miranda, L. (2015). Hamilton: An American Musical. Location: New York City.
Miranda, L. (2015, May 24). Lin-Manuel Miranda's Commencement Address. Lecture presented
at 2015 Commencement in Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT.