30 pages • 1 hour read
Franklin Delano RooseveltFour Freedoms Speech
Nonfiction | Essay / Speech | Adult | Published in 1941A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Symbols & Motifs
The Four Freedoms
The motif of the four freedoms in President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s speech equates to the core principles upon which a democratic society is built. These freedoms—freedom of speech and expression, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear—represent the fundamental rights essential for individuals to lead meaningful lives and for nations to foster a just and inclusive environment.
Rooted in the principles of democracy, these freedoms serve as the pillars that support a thriving society. Freedom of speech and expression ensures that individuals can voice their opinions and ideas without fear of repression or censorship, fostering a vibrant exchange of diverse perspectives. Freedom of worship guarantees the right to practice and express one’s religious beliefs, promoting tolerance and diversity within a society.
Moreover, freedom from want highlights the importance of economic security and social welfare. It recognizes the need for equal opportunities, adequate living standards, and the elimination of poverty. By addressing the basic needs of individuals, such as food, shelter, healthcare, and education, freedom from want enables people to live with dignity and pursue their full potential.
Lastly, freedom from fear emphasizes the significance of a peaceful and secure society. It encompasses protection from external aggression, internal conflicts, and oppression or persecution. By ensuring the safety and security of individuals, freedom from fear enables them to live free from threats and intimidation, fostering an environment that is conducive to exercising other freedoms.
Roosevelt reinforced that these freedoms are not just privileges enjoyed by a few but universal rights that should be guaranteed to all individuals, regardless of their background or circumstances. By highlighting the significance of these freedoms, Roosevelt aimed to inspire a collective commitment to upholding and defending democratic principles, both domestically and globally.
Arsenal
President Roosevelt employs the motif of the arsenal to represent the United States’ role in safeguarding freedom for itself and for European nations: “Our most useful and immediate role is to act as an arsenal for them as well as for ourselves” (Paragraph 49). This rhetorical strategy positions the nation as the defender and promoter of democratic values worldwide.
Roosevelt’s reference to America as an arsenal functions as an intentional allusion to his “Arsenal of Democracy” speech, delivered only one month prior to the “Four Freedoms Speech.” This December 29, 1940, fireside chat focused on America’s role in supplying manpower and weaponry to support the Allies in the war. Repeating the arsenal image emphasizes the industrial and military might of the US and highlights the country’s vast resources and capabilities, emphasizing its ability to provide essential aid and resources necessary to protect democratic ideals at home and abroad. This imagery invokes a sense of strength and resilience, positioning the US as a reliable ally and defender of freedom.
Reiterating the reference to the US as an arsenal in the “Four Freedoms Speech” builds upon Roosevelt’s prior argument that without American weaponry and military might to shore up Britain’s defenses, the Axis powers will control Europe and Asia, and America will no longer be safe. This allusion serves as a call to action and unity as well as a reminder to Americans that their own safety is at risk if they do not act to protect England.
