Rhetorical Analysis Of Dr. Martin Luther King's I Have A Dream Speech
If Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had not given his speech and pushed for equal rights, how different would America be today? In Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech he had marched with many people to fight for equal rights. Dr. King used many rhetorical appeals to effectively develop the central idea. Some of these rhetorical devices were allusions, pathos, and repetition. In his speech he had used many allusions. He had used an an allusion when referring to Abraham Lincoln, “Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation” (King 2). This allusion uses Abraham Lincoln to develop his central idea. It suggests that we have come a long way, but there is still more to be done. Dr.
King had also stated, “ In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (King 4). These words refer to the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and the founding fathers to prove his point. He proves it by referring to cashing a check of freedom that these documents and people had granted them so long ago. In essence, Dr. King’s use of allusions had effectively helped the development of his central idea. In his speech, Dr. King also had used Pathos. For instance he stated, “One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition” (King 3). This quote effectively pulls at the heart strings. In addition to evoking emotion, this quote also develops his central idea. In his his speech he also used pathos by referring to his children, “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” (King 11). This quote also pulls at the heart strings by referring to his children. While it pulls at the heart strings it also helps develops his central idea. In summary, Dr King’s use of pathos helps to develop his central idea. Lastly, Dr King had used repetition many times. For instance in his speech, he repeatedly states, “I have a dream” (King 11-15). By doing so, he helps prove his point and develop his central idea. Also, by doing this, he makes those words stick in any viewer's head forever. He also had repeated the words, “We cannot be satisfied” (King 9). By doing so, he effectively develops the central idea of the speech. These words also stick in your head when repeated. To summarize, King effectively used repetition to prove his central idea. In conclusion, Dr. Martin Luther KIng Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech had used rhetoric to prove his thesis. He used allusions, pathos, and repetition to prove that equality should apply to all people. These words that he spoke on August 28, 1963 will forever lie in the hearts of all people thanks in no small part to his use of rhetoric.
King had also stated, “ In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (King 4). These words refer to the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and the founding fathers to prove his point. He proves it by referring to cashing a check of freedom that these documents and people had granted them so long ago. In essence, Dr. King’s use of allusions had effectively helped the development of his central idea. In his speech, Dr. King also had used Pathos. For instance he stated, “One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition” (King 3). This quote effectively pulls at the heart strings. In addition to evoking emotion, this quote also develops his central idea. In his his speech he also used pathos by referring to his children, “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” (King 11). This quote also pulls at the heart strings by referring to his children. While it pulls at the heart strings it also helps develops his central idea. In summary, Dr King’s use of pathos helps to develop his central idea. Lastly, Dr King had used repetition many times. For instance in his speech, he repeatedly states, “I have a dream” (King 11-15). By doing so, he helps prove his point and develop his central idea. Also, by doing this, he makes those words stick in any viewer's head forever. He also had repeated the words, “We cannot be satisfied” (King 9). By doing so, he effectively develops the central idea of the speech. These words also stick in your head when repeated. To summarize, King effectively used repetition to prove his central idea. In conclusion, Dr. Martin Luther KIng Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech had used rhetoric to prove his thesis. He used allusions, pathos, and repetition to prove that equality should apply to all people. These words that he spoke on August 28, 1963 will forever lie in the hearts of all people thanks in no small part to his use of rhetoric.