In Burke’s, “A Rhetoric of Motives”, he states that “a man can be his own audience” (p.38). How can someone be their own audience when the use of rhetoric is to persuade others? The others in that statement is the audience, but how can someone persuade themselves while using rhetoric? Also, if they are only persuading themselves, then is it still considered rhetoric? I agree with Burke that someone can be their own audience. People are their own audience all the time like performers. Performers have to practice constantly before they can get on a stage and do a show in front of many people. Before that big show happens, the performer must practice in front of oneself first. This can relate to a presidential debate between two candidates. Each candidate has to take time and first right out their speech. While making the speech, the candidate must persuade himself to see if what he is saying is believable. If they cannot believe what they are saying, then how do they expect the audience to do so?…show more content… Being one’s own audience can help the speaker lay out exactly what they are going to say. This helps them see what things are beneficial to their argument and what things to get rid of. It can also help the speaker visualize what their opponent might say. Visualizing all of this would help them prepare the right things to say in response to their opponents. Burke goes on to point out that by the speaker being his own audience can reveal certain traits and aspects that the speaker may not have known they had. It could also develop new traits that the speaker might need for future arguments and debates. There could also be a downside to a speaker being their own