The King's Speech

Throughout the book, speeches function as an important motif. As the story returns to the need for the Duke/King to deliver a speech, his growing confidence and importance is charted. This is particularly true of the Christmas broadcasts, which begin as a seemingly insurmountable hurdle and finish as one of the King’s most vaunted achievements. Each new speech and broadcast demonstrate how well he is combating his speech impediment, helps to fortify the bond between him and Logue, and connects him to his subjects.

The Duke recruits Logue with the aim of helping him address the speech impediment that has held him back for his entire life. In particular, this has prevented the young royal from speaking in public. As a member of the royal family, this is one of the few expectations placed on the Duke. Furthermore, his father—King George V—has become famous for his ability to deliver yearly broadcasts to the entire Empire. George V is an excellent speaker and respected for his ability to inspire his subjects. In comparison to his father, Bertie’s speeches are weak and ineffective. At the beginning of the text, before Logue is recruited, the speeches represent a threat to Bertie’s sanity and a drain on his self-confidence.