Powerfully Delivered Speeches

Though the speeches given in these films are delivered under very different contexts, both Mel Gibson and Colin Firth were able to move their audiences. However, this raises the question of whether we enjoy these speeches because of its content, or because we feel connected to the protagonists as a whole.

King George VI suffered from a humiliating stutter  his whole life and sought help for his problem for years, with little success. The King's Speech tracks King George VI's battle with his speech impairment and draws heavily upon pathos as viewers inevitability feel sympathetic towards this kind, yet distressed man. This 60 Minutes episode with Colin Firth helps explain King George VI's character, and why audiences can relate so closely to him. Video credit to CBS Online

In Braveheart's freedom speech, Wallace encourages his Scottish brothers to fight the English even though they are widely outnumbered. He also informs them that he is the legendary Sir William Wallace, and he is a man just like the rest of them. This appeals to audiences because we see that Wallace does not view himself as heroic or better than anyone else. It leads audiences to believe that we, too, can be heroes. Video credit to movieclips