RHE 309K: Textual Patton vs. Visual Patton

It’s the American flag. High, wide, and straightened across the vast stage, showing its magnificence spreading to all corners of the room.

It’s the silence. The stagnant, solemn silence, foreshadowing the important figure that is to come.

He arrives. By the stiffness of his entire body, the brisk march, it goes without saying that he is going to change some lives.

The camera focuses in on his eyes. There’s sternness inside, glaring anger; signs that you do NOT want to cross this man. There are multiple zooms onto his uniform, displaying the medals, awards, and recognitions that he has received. Each time the camera spends more than a few seconds lingering on the medals.
Patton had only came onto the scene for less than minute and he hasn’t spoken yet, but his presence and his power has already become evident.

This background and introduction to Patton is not something that black-and-white text can give us. The non-verbal messages that the film adds to characterize Patton are nothing compared to the text.

Through the text, Patton is still powerful, but on a smaller scale than on film.
In the text, Patton chooses his words carefully; leaves room more pauses, dramatic effect, and appropriately exerts a mood of having a superior speak with you, WITHOUT the rejection of his high military rank. He uses everyday language, causing it to be easy for his audience to relate to him.

He pulls the “patriotic card” a lot during the text. “You’re an American.” “Americans are the best.” “Americans don’t lose, they win.” This is Patton’s way of drawing a common ground between him and his audience while increasing their self-esteem.

With those words, adding a three dimensional character only improves the rhetoric level and further persuades the audience. The film provides an actual character to see, to hear the rough voice, to see the daggers he could throw at you with his eyes if you don’t agree with him, to hear the enunciations.

Patton is able to establish his presence solely by text. However, having a three dimensional character and adding in non-verbal rhetorical devices improves his argument for men to fight in the war by a lot more.