f questions (4). An important note that Burke made was that there is a sixth element of the pentad, attitude (4). Attitude, which is often coupled with agent, answers the how question and deals with the manner in which the presentation is made (4). After applying the pentad to the dramatic action of the Statue of Liberty, there are five aspects that coincide with the five elements: Act: The representation of the American Dream of freedomScene: The historical struggle that took place to achieve this political freedom.Agent: The United States Government.Agency: The visual representation of the Statue herself.Purpose: Inspire the hope of freedom and prosperity to outsiders and remind citizens of how fortunate they are.Burke says that once each element of the pentad has been identified, that it is helpful to form a ratio (4). This ratio determines the most important elements and details their relevance and effect on each other (4). The ratios that may be formed are: Scene-act, scene-agent, scene-agency, scene-purpose, act-scene, act-agent, act-agency, act-purpose, agent-scene, agent-act, agent-agency, agent-purpose, agency-scene, agency-act, agency-agent, agency-purpose, purpose-scene, purpose-act, purpose-agent, and purpose-agency (4).For the purposes of this analysis, the ratio of act-purpose will be used. By ordering the ratio in this manner, we are stressing the fact that the act and the purpose have the most influential effects on the pentad. However the dominant factor in all of this is the act the representation of the American Dream and freedom. The significance of the act is defined by the historical struggle of creating a nation of independence and freedom, also referred to as the scene. The statue itself, the agency, communicates this message to the world and at the same time aims to carry out the underlined purpose, by persuading people to remember the ideals that our nation was founded upon. This is where the element...
