Throughout history, rhetoric has been a vital part to progress and change around the world. Such claim holds truth today. Throughout the entirety of the reading, Blair constantly reiterates that “as society improves and flourishes, men acquire more influence over one another by means of reasoning and discourse.” Such statement holds a vital importance within the rhetorical field because it sheds light on the fact that, unlike any other aspect of influence, rhetoric, by far, has been the way in which individuals seek to gain power and influence. However, with time and societal changes, the way in which individuals utilize such rhetoric and influence has changed as well.

Such shift in the use of rhetoric directly relates to the technological advances that we are able to use today. With different approaches to rhetoric, such as videos, websites, and posters, individuals are able to easily spread their rhetoric to countless individuals around the world. Thus, the scope of personal success and social status marked by one’s ability to speak clearly and effectively is never ending.

Herrick states, “rhetoric has always functioned as a path to refinement and an avenue into elite social circles.” Such holds truth today. However, with “standardized” education and English requirements, individuals already have a basis for rhetorical theory within their rhetoric. Individuals in today’s society, as seen with experience, view individuals whose rhetoric would be classified as “uneducated” or “ghetto” as a means to being uneducated, unsuccessful, and of having low social status. On the other hand, individuals who speak clearly and effectively, are seen as quite the opposite. Those in government, even if their content or message is absolute bull, are deemed as being successful and of high social status because they use their rhetoric in a way that exudes clarity and ultimately effectiveness.  However, those individuals of society with substance to their rhetoric who fail to utilize clarity and effectiveness are ultimately deemed as unsuccessful. In all instances, there are exceptions to any argument, as seen with the ultimate success of Donald Trump, whose rhetoric exudes everything but eloquence. However, throughout time and even today, the ability for an individual to be able to speak clearly and effectively conveys the up most success and social status to those educated enough to recognize such eloquence.