Rhetorical Analysis Of I Have A Dream Speech

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. became a civil rights activist shortly after attaining his doctorate in theology from Boston University. He later went on to deliver one of the finest speeches in United States history on August 28, 1963 entitled “I Have a Dream.” Over 200,000 people arrived to hear King deliver this speech. King uses a number of rhetorical devices to accentuate his point such as metaphors, antitheses, as well as anaphora’s. In addressing the nation Dr. Martin Luther King Jr effectively uses the appeals of Ethos, Pathos and Logos to convince the audience to take action in demanding racial justice for African-Americans; He envisioned a nation uniting as one to defend the rights of every ethnicity under the constitution.

Martin Luther King Jr., an American Baptist minister and a Civil Rights activist, became the most visible spokesperson and leader in the Civil Rights Movement. He is widely known for his speech that took place on 28 August 1963, “I Have a Dream.” This speech aimed toward the entire nation. King’s main purpose in this speech was to convince his audience to demand racial justice and for them all to stand up together for their rights. In this speech, King uses emotional and logical appeal to gain the audience's support. He applied many rhetorical devices to his speech to connect with the audience’s emotions, and to logically support his arguments.

One hundred years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation to stop slavery, Martin Luther King, Jr. presented the “I Have a Dream” speech to thousands of people. The day Luther King, Jr.’s speech was the day of the March on Washington, which was for the support of the rights o colored citizens, and for the termination of segregation. King delivered this speech with a tone of hope and determination in order to convince colored people to fight for their rights and persuade the citizens that all lives matter and should be treated equally. He also delivered it in order to urge the rights these people deserved. Luther stood before all these people to express his thoughts on equality and the rights his people were stripped of. Kings’ audience consisted of the citizens of America that believed in equality for all races. In the “I Have a Dream” Speech, Martin Luther King, Jr used many metaphors, similes, analogies, Pathos, and Mythos to connect with his audience on a superior level and develop his tone.

In only about twenty minutes, Martin Luther King Jr informed, and left a huge impact on the American people during the mid-20th Century. He did this with his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, written in order to highlight the importance on ending racism and getting equal treatment for all Americans. During this time racism was a major problem in the United States. This problem was never-ending and needed to be brought to the attention of America. Freedom for African Americans was intended to happen through the Emancipation Proclamation, but new laws restricted this from actually happening. King spoke out about this everlasting issue on August 28, 1963 in Washington DC. The speech was very powerful as it contains plenty examples of pathos, ethos, logos and kairos. Using these rhetorical devices, King successfully presents his speech to America, leaving a significant influence.

As his speech continues the speaker talks about specific dates that happened up until his speech. In the speech, Martin Luther King Jr. talks of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. The Constitution and Declaration declared 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. (MLK speech pg1)” However, instead of letting blacks and whites live as equals blacks are treated as if they are inferior to whites. Dr. King says “Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked “insufficient funds. (MLK speech pg1)”

By speaking to everyone as `his friends,' King was already pushing the notion that they were all the same. Friends tend to be of the same status and have respect for one another, King showed that although he was black and oppressed, he still was on the same level as, and had respect for his white oppositionists. Also, this same idea is supported by the fact that King chose to write the essay in first person using I and you instead of a formal third person speech. By choosing to speak this way, King puts his issues onto attainable terms and is a technique used to interest his audience and make them aware of the reality that indifference regarding racial segregation is not something that only affects others, but I, you, us, and we.

On August 28th, 1963, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr stood on the steps in front of the Lincoln Memorial and delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech. He spoke passionately for 17 minutes on his views about human equality for African Americans at one of the largest civil rights demonstrations in history. King played a major role in ending the segregation for African Americans. His rhetorical language left an impact on America. Through his use of appeals like ethos, logos, pathos, and other rhetorical techniques. He influenced Americans to believe in the notion that all men are created equal.

    “I Have a Dream” by Martin Luther King Junior is a widely known speech that demonstrates the power of rhetoric and the effect it can have on the audience. This speech was written and presented by Martin Luther King Jr. in the year 1963, right in front of the Lincoln Memorial. He uses symbolism, metaphorical imagery, and powerful diction to create an impact on the audience. These rhetorical strategies demonstrate ethos, pathos, and logos to help the audience Martin Luther King Jr’s message and purpose.

I Have a Dream Rhetorical Analysis On August 28, 1963 at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream. Dr. King’s dream was to live in a world (or more specifically, the USA) where African Americans could live in harmony with white people. During this time period this dream was not a reality. African Americans and whites were segregated, there was antipathy against African Americans just because of the color of their skin.

King then starts to elaborate on the history of Negroes slaves. He explains how the Emancipation Proclamation was signed on the same place that his speech was being presented on (King 1). This was done in order to build the credibility of his speech by comparing it to another significant event in the then history. He then continues to build pathos by stating that even though slavery was officially ended with the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, Negroes were not free. He continues by explaining how a Negro “lives on a lonely land of poverty” (King 1) and “finds himself in exile in his own land” (King 1) in order to bring a feeling of sympathy in the audience. Then the last sentence of this paragraph acts as a transition from the history to the purpose of King’s speech.

He states, “America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked ‘insufficient funds.’” (Jr). This is an analogy to which everyone can relate because everyone understands money and can recognize in being handed a bad check. He also speaks about discrimination and segregation. He uses this logic to make people understand that nothing will get better unless discrimination and segregation are eliminated.

First and foremost, Dr. King in his speech says ‘’we will be able to work together to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day’’(L.94-96). Here, King uses anaphora by repeating the word ‘’together’’ many times. King wants people to be united and this is why he repeats together. Furthermore, ‘’Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of New York ’’ (L.103-104).

Two scores and thirteen years ago, a wise American, wrote a speech, "I Have a Dream". Those of you that were in attendance, on this amazing day; standing at the feet of a great man, with similar goals; of freedom, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; thank you. Your presence allowed his speech to reach heights, never imagine. As he stated in the "I Have a Dream" speech, it has become a "beacon light of hope" to millions of American's, not just Negros. Seven scores and thirteen years ago, Gettysburg, Virginia was addressed by, one of our leaders.

Martin Luther King Jr's “I Have a Dream” speech is a speech of hope for the future. Martin Luther King is reaching out to the people and demanding change. He speaks of a different and new society where black and white people are treated equally. King incorporates rhetorical devices like; parallelism, rhetorical questions, and repetition into his speech. These devices improve his points, persuade his audience, and make his speech one that is not easily forgotten.

In King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, King uses anaphoras to push the importance and necessity of African-Americans gaining equal rights in America. “I have a dream…”, Dr. King repeats this phrase numerous times towards the end of his speech. King does this to emphasize the ‘dream’ for African-Americans in this time period of being able to have the same rights as white people and for it to be a normal and acceptable in society. By sharing this dream King hopes to encourage other Americans to join and support the Civil Rights Movement. “Let freedom ring…”, King repeats this phrase in the last portion of his speech to not only end his speech strongly, but to also remind his audience of his ‘dream’ and his desire for freedom and equal rights for all individuals no matter where they are in America or their skin color. King’s use of anaphoras hits the audience hard and draws them into his speech even more. His repetition fires up the crowd and makes them feel like they must take action and make a change.