Rhetoric is the art of speaking effectively and persuasively. In Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, the narrator uses persuasive speeches to influence his listeners, convey his ideas to them, and lead them into action. In the narrator's speeches at the eviction and at Clifton's funeral, the narrator uses persuasive speaking to arouse the crowd's feelings, but he doesn't attain the same response in both.
             As the narrator walks down the streets of Harlem, he comes upon a crowd of people watching as an eviction takes place. An old couple and their household furnishings are being taken out into the street. The narrator identifies with the couple and out of anger delivers a speech to the throng. In his exhortation, the narrator refers to the multitude as law-abiding people, urging them to avoid useless violence and instead plan their moves. He also talks about all the blacks being dispossessed of their rights. The narrator, caught up in the fervor of the moment, calls for crowd to go into the apartment and pray. The crowd responds and rushes in, beating the marshals and bringing in the evicted couple's possessions. This speech successfully arises the throng into a definite action, and is the beginning of the narrator as a spokesman for the people.
             After Clifton's assassination, and out of a feeling of responsibility for Clifton's death, the narrator organizes a public funeral in a Mount Morris Park. A diverse group of people from all over the city comes to mourn the deceased brother. Bands play funeral marches while the crowd sings together. After the songs and at the crowd's expectance the narrator begins speaking. The narrator speaks of Clifton just as Marc Antony speaks about Julius Caesar at his funeral, assuring that he has come to bury him not to praise him. His speech is very simple and honest, which a lot of emphasis on the fact that Clifton is dead. In an effort to increase the tens...