Churchill, Hirohito, and Goebbels

Churchill, Hirohito, and Goebells are all three very influential WWII figures whose words were so profound, we are still reading and analyzing them today. All three men use hyperboles to advance their arguments and gain the support and/or loyalty of their people.

All of their exaggerations use the method of rallying people to support their cause because the fate of the world or the future of humankind rests in their fight. Goebells uses this tactic often in his speech, as his claims usually contain no support and are in no way truthful. His figurative language rouses his audience, because who wouldn't support a war that "overshadows all previous human and historical experience"(3)? Although he is completely off target, his use of hyperbole creates no choice but for his listeners to agree with him. Hirohito, on the other hand, is not rallying people to fight as Goebells is, uses a hyperbole to covertly convince his subjects of something, and that is, that "all" have turned against Japanese interests. Considering this was after the atom bomb, the Japanese would very likely believe this idea, especially coming from their divine ruler, that the whole world is against them, however, Hirohito does this in such a simple and unknowingly effective way that one would not even recognize it.

Churchill is much more similar to Goebells in that his overstatements are explicit and dramatic. In an attempt to gain support, he informs them of the "monstrous tyranny" that needs to be stopped, and reminds that they are fighting "one of the greatest battles in history." By doing this, his tactics closely resemble those of Goebells in that both are using extreme, direct, forceful and aggressive language and statements to gain the support they need. Their hyperboles are undoubtably pathos driven, as Churchill describes the enemy as the devil himself, while Goebells believes the war to be the biggest event to humankind ever.

Furthermore, the use of hyperboles in all three speeches effectively aid the speakers in getting their claims across and fulfilling the intention of their speech. Althought Goebells and Churchill are looking to gain support while Hitrohito seeks to keep his people loyal, and Goebells and Churchill's over statements are more forceful when Hirohitos are covert, they all demonstrate the idea of hyperboles and how they are an essential part to a speech, and when well crafted, can push people into action without them ever knowing.