In his revolutionary speech given to the people in Washington D.C in 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. powerfully voices and effectively persuades his audience through the inclusion of repetition, influential imagery, and allusions to express the need for an end to segregation and the dream that everyone will one day be equal. MLK develops his argument through the use of various examples, told through facts but also pathos and other, more dramatic ways of storytelling. He speaks to express the need for an end to segregation and the dream that everyone will one day be equal in order to restore peace and fairness to all. MLK speaks to all, there isn’t anyone he doesn’t want to hear his message, young and old alike. Repetition was used by MLK successfully …show more content…
An example of this is when he adds, “I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight,”(24). MLK puts the image in the reader's mind of all the mountains and valleys, or the highs and lows of the Earth being made the same, and that they will all be held in high regard. In turn, it makes his argument more simple for his readers, and easier to understand. Imagery is also used when MLK articulates, “With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood,”(26). King paints a picture of the struggle and the hard work they’ve put into this cause, to “hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope”(2). He’s explaining that he will do everything in his power to triumph the sadness and lack of hope that his current world gives him, and that he will always turn it into something positive, something that gives him hope. Again, it helps the reader sympathize with his cause by showing all of the struggle and hard work he went through to get here. MLK uses imagery powerfully and effectively through these
Have you ever wondered just how powerful and moving words can be? Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s speech, “I Have a Dream” as well as his “Letters From Birmingham Jail” are full of powerful and inspiring wording. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr takes advantage of this wording to help bring to light the issues that black people in America were being subjected to, so that people would feel inspired to take action. Martin Luther King Jr utilizes figurative language to effectively make the people who listened to his speech better visualize the struggles of black people in America so that they will actively try to get the government to change laws to be more inclusive. An example of this is when Martin Luther King Jr announced, “[That] this sweltering summer
MLK continues to demonstrate to the white, that they are easily influenced and they are wrong about “outsiders coming in,” they are not foreigners, but citizens, your neighbors. He continues to demonstrate his goal, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” (4). MLK illustrates that his goal is to show that injustice is happening to African American, that his main destination is to stop it, and that one place could influence it all. Injustice is everywhere, the unfairness going on in the world, the ruthlessness of the world. He continues to use pathos to show the untruth whites do not look for, the truth they tend to hide from others.
MLK is a kind of man who puts his mind to something and never gives up. His two pieces of work “I have a Dream Speech” and “Letter from Birmingham Jail” both explain why segregation and discrimination are an issue. The strategy he uses is to grab readers and listeners attention is by using charged language and stirring emotions also called as “Emotional Appeal” or “Pathos” style of work. MLK does this by expressing his thoughts and feelings on what he thinks is right and what is wrong about the whole ordeal. He takes into consideration what the Negro women and children are experiencing, and what they’re suffering through.
MLK knows that people can sense doubt, so he demonstrates himself as a blazing leader that is certainly on the podium. In his speech, MLK used vivid language often paired with imagery to build his cause and define the problem, and pronouns such as “we” and “us” invoke
MLK Jr. in this speech tells his audience of the grave injustice that is happening all around him. Instead of involving himself in a violent movement to stir up large amounts of hate, he instead leads a nonviolent movement where he and his followers protest nonviolently in the streets and local shops. They were bombarded by water hoses and attack dogs because of their protest, but continued to press on regardless of the peril that they put themselves in. They were fighting, in MLK Jr.’s mind, an “illegal unconstitutional junction” that the government had set up to persecute the black community in America (MLK Jr. 216). He compares their situation to Jesus’ parable of the good Samaritan, where the Samaritan was not expected to help the dying man out, but did so anyways out of the compassion in his heart, spending his own money to put the man into a good inn.
Martin Luther King’s historic I Have a Dream speech has a similar goal to Atticus Finch’s closing argument in the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Both speeches use rhetorical devices along with ethos, pathos, and logos to support and defend their points of view in the situations in which they exist. Through each of their wording and literary methods, they defend racial equality for their fellow humans. Both Martin Luther King and Atticus Finch have similar styles over conveying their views.
“I have a dream” by Martin Luther king teaches us how we are all equal and that we shouldn’t discriminate one another by their looks, skin color, or anything. He does an excellent job with his word usage and metaphors. The way he compares justice with bouncing a check really helps to get his point across. The way that he talks most likely gave a lot of people a reason to listen, because he sounded like he knew what he was talking about. The way he references the Lord and the Declaration of Independence showed how we are all the same.
One of Martin Luther King’s effective strategies in his speech was the powerful use of imagery. According to MLK, “Again and again, we must rise to majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force,”( 9 ). When one hears this quote, one can imagine that MLK is trying to show how one’s self has been beaten down over the years and now they must rise and fight back. King proposes, in paragraph 8, the whirlwinds of revolt were believed to have shaken the foundations of the nation that won’t let up until justice comes through. He shows that the whirlwinds of
In paragraphs 16-24 he repeats the phrase “I have a dream.” This is an example of repetition. MLK also uses analogy in his speech in paragraph 4. In the text, King compares American civil rights to cashing a bad check. King compares the two to show how worthless the promise of African Americans civil rights is.
The listing of each person’s motivation and quote creates a rhythm, emulating the flow of time and visualizing how different people fought for freedom. Eventually, the rhythm is accelerated as the introductions to each person get shorter and shorter, representing that we are getting closer to the present. It shows that change is imminent and it cannot be stopped. Just as how many other good extremists have succeeded in their efforts, King and the civil rights movement will succeed. King utilizes repetition and imagery to create pathos in his audience.
Martin Luther King Jr., a minister and social activist, led the Civil Rights Movement in the United States from the mid-1950s until his death by assassination in 1968. He was an advocate for equality between all races and a civil and economic rights Activist. Because of his leadership, bravery and sacrifice to make the world a better place, Martin Luther King was awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize. His incredible public speaking skills and ability to properly get his message across can clearly be scene throughout the speech. Tone: Dr. King delivered his speech at the university of Oslo in Oslo Norway in front of a large group of people.
MLK uses pathos mixed with loaded language to show at heart how harsh and extreme the words of the clergymen were after they called him an "outside agitator", he gave the exact example and this can make his audience feel how he felt as well as motivate the audience. The effect MLK puts on the audience by showing them the clergymen's words is almost a type of moving and shock to see that they call him and his followers such a strong name. The loaded language makes the audience see how harsh the words are of the clergymen by calling him an “outside agitator” although he argues it was his business. All of these incredibly strong points were found just in paragraph 2, MLK uses emotion and his powerful words to convince and get the audience to side with
Martin Luther King Jr. was an important figure in gaining civil rights throughout the 1960’s and he’s very deserving of that title as seen in both his “I Have a Dream” speech and his “Letter from Birmingham Jail” letter. In both of these writings Dr. King uses logos - logical persuasion - and pathos - emotional appeal - to change the opinions of people who were for segregation and against civil rights. Although King was arrested for a nonviolent protest, he still found a way to justify his actions with the use of logos and pathos. MLK uses both ways to gain the attention and agreement of the audience but, he uses pathos not just more, but in a more relatable way in order to appeal to his audience.
On August 28th, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr gave us one of one of the most rhetorically moving speeches ever given. Titled as the “I Have a Dream Speech,” he read this speech to the “March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom”. As a civil right mover he gave this great speech to all Americans (black and white) so that he could give off the idea of equality on the same level. Because of his crowd of mix races King made sure to make his speech imploring to all no matter what the race that they may be. He uses metaphorical imagery, powerful diction,and symbolism to create an impact on the audience.
A day before his assassination, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., gave a speech entitled “I’ve Been to the Mountain Top”. Throughout his speech, King used everyday scenarios of social injustice with in depth metaphors to get his message across and grab the audience’s attention. He