• Home Page
  • Rhetorical Devices In I Have A Dream Speech

Rhetorical Devices In I Have A Dream Speech

Superior Essays
Show More
On, August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous “I Have A Dream” speech with the intention of building a better bond within the American people in order to assemble a remarkable future. During that time in America, most citizens were racially divided and many people of color were looked down on in society. Martin Luther King saw a problem with how segregated they were and him an many other advocates for civil rights planned to do something about it. This speech was a way to motivate millions of African Americans to demand justice from their oppressors, to say enough is enough. Dr. King delivered the message of freedom, inequality, and racial segregation very clearly because of his use of metaphors, repetition, and imagery. Poetic …show more content…
needs to come to an end in order to go on to a better future. King refers to the past of racial segregation to show that no change has been made for the African Americans. He repeats over and over again that even though slavery ended one-hundred years ago, this nation is still racially divided as it was back then (King 1). A large amount of Africans Americans were too weak to fight for their chance to live in an equal society and King made note of that to motivate them to challenge that. He recites the phrase “now is the time” to propel the audiences’ to go out and make a change on how they are being discriminated against by their own country like they are the scum on the bottom their shoes. “Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice.” (King 2). Now is not the time to continue the path of racial segregation but it is now the time for the African Americans to fight for their god given right to be free. King also rehashes that he has a dream where he and his family can live in a nation where they aren’t discriminated against because of their skin color. “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream… I have a dream…”. (King 5). King recites his dream so that it is no longer something that he and his audience can hope to happen but something that they know will happen. In summary, King’s use of repetition serves the purpose to stick his idea of segregation into the minds of all that are watching in order to start the process of strengthening our broken

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Just Walk On By Dr. Martin Luther King
    • 759 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Just Walk On By Dr. Martin Luther King

    “When King said we have wait 340 years for our constructional and God-given right” (515). King uses strong words in that he talks about the dark times that African- American had to endure during slavery and during segregation in the south. This gives the content of the story value to it as it shows the dark past of America. King also taught me that I need to speak with conviction that way the message of your story is understood and there is no confusion in what you are talking about. King spoke with a lot of conviction when he was talking to the white moderates, in which helped him to try and persuade the white moderates to support the black…

    • 759 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Letter From Birmingham Jail Rhetorical Analysis
    • 457 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Letter From Birmingham Jail Rhetorical Analysis

    In 1865, the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution ended slavery. Nearly a century later, African Americans continue to struggle for equality under the law. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. helped bring these problems to light. Dr. Martin Luther King gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech at the Lincoln Memorial to thousands of people. He was speaking about the racial injustices that had engulfed the country, and how it was time for change.…

    • 457 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Rhetorical Analysis Of Mlk Letter From Birmingham Jail
    • 652 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Rhetorical Analysis Of Mlk Letter From Birmingham Jail

    King yearns that “. . . the dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away and the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear drenched communities.” This image of bracing the elements creates feelings of uncertainty and fear, encompassing the everyday struggles of African Americans. King collates this with “the radiant stars of love and brotherhood.” This analogy express the hope of a better life.…

    • 652 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Mlk Ethos Pathos Logos
    • 570 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Mlk Ethos Pathos Logos

    AThis shows that the Negro is still in despair. King illustrates this clearly that whites have no problem at all, LKing makes it clear that the problems haven’t been dealt with yet.…

    • 570 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Decent Essays

    Mlk Rhetorical Appeal
    • 129 Words
    • 1 Pages

    Mlk Rhetorical Appeal

    Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was the greatest example of strength and perseverance. Despite the racial aggression against individuals of color, he defended them and fought for their rights. Provided that King’s purpose was to make abolish the segregation laws, he delivered a strong message stating that an individual’s skin color does not disqualify them from enjoying the freedom that America promises. At the same time, King states that aside from personal views on segregation the act is against unconstitutional. Whit this intention, King used a logical and emotional appeal in his works to convey his audience that segregation was both unconstitutional and invidious.…

    • 129 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Rhetorical Appeals In I Have A Dream
    • 716 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Rhetorical Appeals In I Have A Dream

    Money is the most dominant thing that we have in this world. King is basically saying that sufficient funds are the whites, and the insufficient funds are the blacks. He knows the people will listen if he relates everything to money. At the end of the speech, King keeps repeating “I have a dream,” and “Let freedom ring,” to get the point across.…

    • 716 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Summary Of Martin Luther King Beyond Good And Evil
    • 952 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Summary Of Martin Luther King Beyond Good And Evil

    King's persuasive yet patient rhetoric addresses each of their concerns in turn while exposing the deep-seated hurt and betrayal felt by many members of the black community. His main arguments were the time for change is now, nature of segregation and failings of the white moderate. Martin Luther King said, “For the free, there is no convenient time to take a stand against injustice; for the oppressed, the time is now.” It means that we should not wait for freedom. He also mentioned segregation is cruel to those who are subjected to it and immoral in the eyes of God.…

    • 952 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Great Essays

    Injustice In Letter From Birmingham Jail
    • 2221 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Injustice In Letter From Birmingham Jail

    King states that the “oppressed cannot remain oppressed forever” and they have left the colored people of America with no choice but to use nonviolent…

    • 2221 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Great Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Analysis Of Strength To Love, By Martin Luther King
    • 901 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Analysis Of Strength To Love, By Martin Luther King

    By showing love and kindness to others, people usually imagine that he or she is a gentle spirit. This is how Jesus portrayed Himself. Jesus did not judge and He did nothing but represented God 's love to everyone. King is using this same concept, just as Jesus did, to show that the African American community is that of the same. Hate will perpetuate hate, leading to racial segregation.…

    • 901 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Superior Essays

    Compare And Contrast Martin Luther King And Letter From Birmingham Jail
    • 1081 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Compare And Contrast Martin Luther King And Letter From Birmingham Jail

    When King appeals to emotion he wants you to understand how colored people were treated. If you’re not a Negro or colored person you don’t know the struggles they go through on a daily basis just because of the color of their skin. Also, colored people keep getting told to “wait,” but nothing is happening, nothing is changing, everything is staying the same: “...when you take a cross-county drive and find it necessary to sleep night after night in the uncomfortable corners of your automobile because no motel will accept you; when you are humiliated day in and day out by nagging signs reading “white” and “colored”; when your first name becomes “nigger,” your middle name becomes “boy”…

    • 1081 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    A Rhetorical Analysis Of I Have A Dream Speech
    • 1116 Words
    • 4 Pages

    A Rhetorical Analysis Of I Have A Dream Speech

    He wanted to show that a black man could be educated and make valid points as well as a white man. He says, “ No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream” (King 4). King is skillfully using correct grammar as he proves his point using two metaphors in the same sentence. This strong statement is one that grabs the reader 's attention and exemplifies his amazing writing skills perfectly. King quotes, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.…

    • 1116 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Allusion In I Have A Dream Speech
    • 992 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Allusion In I Have A Dream Speech

    Martin Luther King Jr. was an American Baptist minister and a leader of the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He delivered his famous “I have a Dream” speech, at the Lincoln Memorial on 28 August 1963 in order to call for an end of racism in the United States. In his speech Martin Luther King Jr. attempted to convince the majority white United States government to give African Americans equal rights through the use of biblical and historical allusions, alliterations, and imagery. King starts his speech by mentioning “Five score years ago”. This allusion refers to the Gettysburg Address, a speech by Abraham Lincoln, the President of the United States who liberated the African-Americans from slavery.…

    • 992 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Similarities Between Martin Luther King Jr And Susan B Anthony
    • 1335 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Similarities Between Martin Luther King Jr And Susan B Anthony

    “Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God’s children” (King). Martin Luther King Jr was a non-violent and yet fiery leader who spoke with passion. Through his words he was trying to ignite the passion within his audience and that they could bring the long cherished dream of equality true.…

    • 1335 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Superior Essays

    Rhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King's Letter From Birmingham Jail '
    • 1875 Words
    • 8 Pages
    • 1 Works Cited

    Rhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King's Letter From Birmingham Jail '

    This is from a first-hand perspective, and when I read the statement it impacted me in a way that made me wonder how another human being could ever think to treat a group of people in this way. It is emotional; it stirs sympathy in the hearts of the audience. I don’t think, however, that was King’s motive; He wanted to make his point why desegregation cannot wait. Of course King knows that this type of narrative will incite sympathy, but what he must relay to the audience is that this is his reality.…

    • 1875 Words
    • 8 Pages
    • 1 Works Cited
    Superior Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    The Speech I Have A Dream By Martin Luther King
    • 1094 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The Speech I Have A Dream By Martin Luther King

    The speech” I have a dream” by Martin Luther king, was delivered in August 28 1963 at Lincoln Memorial Washington D.C, is one of the most powerful speech in American history. The speech is powerful and the tone fluctuates mainly between pathos and logos. Also, the speaker provided argumentative speech by addressing reasons and supports for his argument. In addition, he represented the other point of view for his demand of racial justice. However, the words were simple, but the speech varies from the treatise style to the poetic one.…

    • 1094 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
Ready To Get Started?
Discover
Company
Follow
©2024 Cram.com
Privacy Policy |  About Ads |  Site Map |  Advertise  | 
  • Cookie Settings