The Rhetoric of Pathos in the Writings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr used the Aristotelian persuasive method of ethos, pathos, and logos to persuade the clergymen to change their decisions of them stopping their non-violent protests. These persuasion techniques allowed King to infiltrate the minds of the clergymen in every aspect of their lives such as religion, white supremacy, and their own logic. He uses religion to shine a light on their perspective and approached problems within the letter that the Clergymen were unaware about. King, using these methods of persuasion, led the Clergymen to contemplate on their decisions which also led to them questioning their logic. Logos, the method of persuasion using logic, allowed King to address problems and bring forth those problems to

“Tell Them about the Dream, Martin!” by Drew Hansen explains the improvisation of Martin Luther King Jr. made in after the March on Washington leading to the his “I Have a Dream” speech that captivated the world. The article informs the reader about the idea of a person using a powerful phrase to highlight his optimism of racial discrimination ending, and wanting equality for all.

"I Have A Dream" is a mesmerizing speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It was delivered to the thousands of Americans on August 28, 1963, during the March on Washington. Aimed at the entire nation, King’s main purpose in this speech was to convince his audience to demand racial justice towards the mistreated African Americans and to stand up together for the rights afforded to African American under the Constitution. To further convey this purpose more effectively, King cleverly makes use of the rhetorical devices — ethos, pathos and logos — using figurative language such as metaphors and repetition as well as various other techniques e.g. organization, parallel construction and choice of title.

In Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech (1963) "I Have a Dream," brings an up-roaring excitement to his audience, African-Americans, which fills their hearts. He employ's cases of diction and parallelism, telling everyone that he wants African-Americans to be truly free. This turned the tides for African-Americans in the United States, filling them with enthusiasm and the yearning for change.

On August 28, 1963 on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered a 17-minute public speech to over 200,000 supporters of the Civil Rights Movement. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech was a response to continued racial bias nearly 100 years after the end of slavery and a call to action, meant to unify the country in the fight to end segregation. King used his time at the historic event to urge Americans, of all races, to work together throughout the country to ensure equality for all citizens. Though King’s delivery of the speech is widely recognized as impactful because of his passionate sermon-like delivery, the context of the speech contains many rhetorical components. Those rhetorical efforts

Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech is one of the most successful and most legendary speeches in United States history. Martin Luther King Jr. was a masterful speaker, who established a strong command of rhetorical strategies. By his eloquent use of ethos, logos, and pathos, as well as his command of presentation skills and rhetorical devices, King was able to persuade his generation that "the Negro is not free" (King 1). His speech became the rallying cry for civil rights and lives on as an everlasting masterpiece.

In a period of time where few were willing to listen, Martin Luther King, Jr. stood proudly, gathered and held the attention of over 200,000 people. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech was very effective and motivational for African Americans in 1963. Many factors affected Kings’ speech in a very positive manner; the great emotion behind the words, delivering the speech on the steps of the memorial of the President who defeated slavery. And not only was this message beautifully written for the hope of African Americans, but the underlying message for white people, revolution and peace. To stimulate emotion from both parties of his listeners, King used a selection of rhetorical devices such as allusions to historical

Martin Luther King Jr. stood at the base of the Lincoln Memorial and delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech. He dreamed about his children being judged on character, not color. He dreamed of the day when the offspring of slaves and the offspring of their former owners might enjoy each other’s humanity. He dreamed that Mississippi might be made over in the image of justice and that Alabama might redeem its destiny because its youngest citizens joined hands. He dreamed that the true biblical inspiration might spill over into the corridors of hope and faith and baptize the freedom songs of suffering servants. He dreamed that his dream might be recognized as America’s dream, and that freedom might ring from the great peaks and resound in the downcast valleys of the American soul. And he dreamed in such a way that the blues and the spirituals were reconciled in an exhilarating moment of moral synergy that mirrored the unity he wished on the American people.

On August 28th 1963, Civil Rights activist, Martin Luther King Jr. made his infamous “I Have a Dream” speech. In the speech, King confronts the mistreatment of the African American community and the lack of free will they contain in society. Throughout the mid-1900s, the Civil Rights Movement took place, influenced by centuries of cruelty towards the African Americans.. The most influential speech in the modern era was said in front of thousands of Civil Rights activists who all shared a common goal; to fight for the respect and to be treated as equals within the United States.

On August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech in front of a crowd of colored and white men and women. Dr. King gave his speech because he saw a problem throughout the world. He talked about in his speech the racial equity and an incorporated society that turned into an uproar for the blacks. His words turned out to be a touchstone for understanding the social and political change of the time and gave the country a view on what he saw the world would be like in the future. As King delivered his “I Had a Dream” speech on the same steps as Lincoln Memorial he analogizes Lincoln in his speech, “Declaration of Independence,” “Five score years prior, an awesome American, in whose typical shadow we stand today,

On 28th August 1963, during the rally in the nation’s capital, Dr. King delivered his most famous speech, known as the “I Have a Dream” speech, on the steps of the Abraham Lincoln Memorial. Portions of the speech, that are frequently quoted, including, “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal’ … 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.”

   Martin Luther King, Jr.'s, "I Have a Dream", was delivered on the steps at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. on August 28, 1963. Dr. King starts his speech by recalling the Emancipation Proclamation which gave hope to those who were bound by slavery. Yet this hope has definitely faded. One hundred years later African Americans are still in captivity. Although slavery does not exist, those of color are bound by the color of their skin. While African Americans are a large part of society, they are pushed to the corners and often feel exiled in their own land. Dr. King speaks of two great documents; the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. Each of these documents made wonderful

On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered one of the most intensely worded speeches ever to be given, “I Have a Dream.” This speech not only touched the hearts of many in his time, but has also shaped a lasting impact on each and everyone today. While we may have come a long way as a nation since Dr. King’s speech, we are certainly far from being the ideal nation he had envisioned. Political battles, wrongful accusations, and racism are still prevalent in today’s society.

Martin Luther King stood on that stage with confidence and determination to make a change in the United States of America and it was shown through this rhetorical masterpiece titled “I Have a Dream”. The first line of the speech makes the audience aware of not only how serious he is, but also

In 1963, over 200,000 people of all ethnicities, age, and gender gathered around the Lincoln Memorial after the March on Washington to listen to a speech that will forever be known as one of the most rhetorically inspiring speeches in United States history. As Dr. King began his infamous “I have a dream” speech, the crowd grew silent and began to listen. Martin Luther King Jr was a civil rights activist, who successfully delivered his speech by making it appealing to all Americans, black and white. He viewed his racially diverse audience as separate, and equal and spoke about the injustices of segregation and discrimination of African Americans that was taking place in the United States. “Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God’s children. It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro’s legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality-1963 is not an end but a beginning.” (King) As Dr. King spoke from his heart directly to his diverse audience, he was hopeful that they could also share his dream of one day coming together. “I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave-owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brother-hood.” (King)