We Shall Fight on the Beaches

Winston Churchill made this speech to the House of Commons in the British Parliament. Delivered at a crucial point in World War II, it is one of Churchill’s most famous orations, presented early on in his term as Prime Minister. Churchill uses several rhetorical devices and literary tools to unite his people and encourage them to continue their fight against the power of Hitler. The speech was also intended to rally support from Britain’s allies and the broader international community. By demonstrating Britain’s determination to continue the fight against Nazi Germany, he aimed to inspire confidence and solidarity among Allied nations and encourage the United States to join the war. Throughout the speech, Churchill balances the largely negative content of the news he must deliver with patriotic messages of hope for the British people.

In a war where the acts of one man affect the lives of millions, Winston Churchill addresses his country’s leaders with the encompassing “we” to describe military efforts, pursuits, shortcomings, and victories. By referring to the military and citizens as a collective being, Churchill unites the fronts of all Britain and the Allied Forces. His use of this device is most famously utilized in the speech’s final paragraph, listing all the locations “[w]e shall fight” to defend Britain and what it stands for (Paragraph 20). Churchill uses anaphora (the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses) to articulate his message of defiance and resolve. Churchill also uses the collective pronoun in descriptions of military events that affect the British population. The term “we” reminds British citizens and military men they are not alone. The might of the country and its ideals are behind them.

Churchill employs metaphors and imagery to contrast Britain with its enemy. He conveys the potential deadliness of Nazi sympathizers, comparing them to a “malignancy” that must be removed to keep Britain safe. The British people are set apart from both the German Army and the German people, whom Churchill describes as “a dull brute mass […] trampling down in other lands of liberties and comforts which they have never known in their own” (Paragraph 2). Depicting the German people as brainwashed automatons, Churchill suggests that they cannot value democracy as they have never experienced it. Meanwhile, his portrayal of German forces as an “armored and mechanized onslaught” (Paragraph 2) dehumanizes the enemy. By acknowledging the humanity of the British people while portraying Germans as impersonal machines, Churchill suggests a battle between good and evil. His description of the enemy’s advance uses deliberately forceful and menacing imagery. For example, recounting the German forces’ “scythe-stroke” across France, Churchill uses sibilance (the repetition of the “s” sound) to underscore the enemy’s ruthless and sinister nature.

The Prime Minister’s use of poetic techniques aims to ensure that the British people do not underestimate the threat facing their nation. At the same time, he provides more reassuring metaphors to convey the powerful capabilities of the British and Allied forces, describing them as “hurl[ing] back” the enemy. Biblical language emphasizes the notion of a battle between good and evil, describing the Royal Air Force’s intervention at Dunkirk as “[a] miracle of deliverance” (Paragraph 10). In the final line of the speech, he also uses Biblical vocabulary to appeal to the United States. His prediction that “in God’s good time, the New World, with all its power and might” will join the fight presents America as a potential savior (Paragraph 20). Churchill also alludes to Britain’s historical victories, referencing the Knights of the Round Table and the Crusaders. These allusions are designed to evoke patriotism and inspire his audience.

Churchill uses the persuasive rhetorical strategies of ethos and pathos throughout his speech. Ethos involves establishing the speaker’s authority on a given subject to gain the audience’s confidence and trust. Pathos involves an appeal to the audience’s emotions in order to influence their attitude. Churchill’s personal military background is evident in the clear and concise way he describes battle formations and events. The Prime Minister begins his speech with a frank summary of recent military events—both losses and minor victories. His prior military experience creates ethos, giving his audience faith in his credibility in the arena of war.

Churchill invokes pathos when mentioning the death of the son of a House of Commons member, demonstrating that the war has affected everyone, class or occupation notwithstanding. This technique aims to create an emotional connection with the audience, tapping into a shared sense of grief and loss. Pathos is the driving force in the speech’s final lines, where the repeated phrase “we shall” serves as a rallying cry to the British people. The word “shall” conveys certainty, affirming Churchill’s belief that the nation can unite to defeat a common goal, even on their own soil. The use of ethos and pathos in the concluding paragraphs encourages listeners to feel empowered and emboldened in their task.

Churchill uses carefully chosen language to arm the British people, even if those weapons are metaphorical rather than physical. Overall, “We Shall Fight on the Beaches” conveys a message of hope, determination, and defiance in the face of adversity. It remains one of the most well-known speeches of the 20th century, symbolizing the spirit of resistance and resilience.