Martin Luther King Rhetorical Analysis Essay

Words: 1391
Pages: 6
Open Document
Dreaming About Freedom
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.
It is necessary to first understand King's arguments before delving into the actual analysis. King's main argument is that African-Americans are not free or equal according to the rights …show more content…
Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!" (King 4) which evokes an emotional response from the largely black audience, as well as all other individuals who respected freedom. Also aphorisms, such as "Let freedom ring," (King 3) invoked strong feelings in his audience. King's word choice allowed the audience to become more sentimentally attached to the speech. For instance, phrases such as, "we refuse to believe", "our hope", "we can never be satisfied", and "our destiny" (King 1, 2, 3) evokes the emotions that King wanted the audience to have. He convinced his audience to accept his dreams and hopes, as well as agree with his disapproval of current conditions.
In addition to ethos, logos, and pathos, the presentation of "I Have a Dream" adds another element to the speech. When King wants to emphasize a point, and significantly inspire the crowd, he raised his tone of voice and added inflection. Additionally, he periodically raised one or both hands to the sky. He did not rush his speech; rather, he clearly articulated his words and said them in a loud and at a relatively slow-paced speed. He paused in between words, so the audience could fully comprehend each of his thoughts before proceeding. This allowed the audience to react and actually feel the passion in his speaking.
There are several specific rhetorical techniques in addition to aphorisms and diction that King employed in this speech that make it a rhetorical success. One rhetorical device that King used to
Show More

Related Documents: Martin Luther King Rhetorical Analysis Essay

Martin Luther King Rhetorical Analysis

Americans learned to tolerate segregation and violation of their rights, and some grew a hatred towards white. On the other hand, some blacks did want to fight for their rights like Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. Thus it lead to the Civil Rights movement. The Civil rights movement erupted in…

Words 959 - Pages 4

Rhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King

In order to add his ethos appeals, Martin Luther King uses strong appeals to logos with a theory and some citations. First of all, he states, “In any nonviolent campaign there are four basic steps: collection of the facts to determine whether injustices exist; negotiation; self purification; and direct action.” This theory introduces and supports the idea that he claims to use nonviolent campaign to solve this problem rather than violence or war. This is a positive action because what they have to…

Words 262 - Pages 2

Martin Luther King Rhetorical Analysis

Madison Davis Fleming English 102 10/13/2014 In 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. was put into imprisonment and while he was imprisoned he wrote a letter while he was in Birmingham jail. After the letter came out it and became published, millions of copies were sold nationwide. His letter was trying to persuade and educate clergyman about the injustice and harm done to blacks. Martin Luther King tried to persuade his audience by using different kinds of arguments such as, pathos, logos, and ethos. These…

Words 1335 - Pages 6

Martin Luther King Rhetorical Analysis

Also king was hoping his people can rise.what the people were fighting for was human right.Also they were fighting for change.the way this change happen for every person get treat the same way and not because their skin color they get treat a different way.The power of change was made for every person for every person can be free from slavery.Rhetoric was used when king said to his people 100 years later negros still not free .All of the african american were listening to martin luther king what…

Words 462 - Pages 2

Martin Luther King Rhetorical Analysis

Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the most influential civil rights’s leaders, being able to lead a whole community behind him. Starting as a young child in Atlanta, Georgia, was around motivation and an inspiring father who was a pastor at their hometown church. Being a Christian he wanted to follow in his dad’s footsteps Becoming a pastor attending at Booker T. Washington High School, started his career young at 15 giving his first ever speech in Dublin Georgia at First African Baptist Church.…

Words 1385 - Pages 6

Martin Luther King Rhetorical Analysis

force an individual to the brink of madness. King further expands on the idea that the physiological issues that one faces may make them a danger, however at times, the moments of respite, give an opening for manipulation of those around. An individual may become unpredictable in mood and behavior when changing. King illustrates this by writing “It was like a sudden glimpse of some incomprehensible machine that might be safe or might be deadly dangerous.”(King, 120) This quote shows the uncertainty that…

Words 648 - Pages 3

Rhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King Speech

’ which confirmed that he was concerned and responsible-received credibility, awareness and betterment. It confirmed that he has knowledge but outlining some of the factors from the American history. He also referenced Martin Luther King as the address was held on Martin Luther King Day (freedom, liberty and equality). This made him even more credible as he displayed…

Words 131 - Pages 1

Martin Luther King Jr Rhetorical Analysis

King was known for his peaceful protesting abilities, which often overshadowed how his organized marches acted as a form of civil disobedience by blocking transportation and causing a general disturbance. When King organized his marches around busy areas and roads, he forced locals to see civil rights protestors in the flesh rather than being depicted on the radio or in the newspaper. This humanizes Martin Luther King's cause and establishes a connection…

Words 806 - Pages 4

Martin Luther King I Have A Dream Rhetorical Analysis

President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, Martin Luther King Jr. stated “The Nego is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation”. In the struggle for freedom, Martin Luther King Jr. incorporated his Christian background and the peaceful tactics of Mahatma Gandhi, and led the African American community in the Civil Rights Movement. In his speech “I Have a Dream”, Martin Luther King Jr. used rhetorical concepts to unify this nation at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial…

Words 1263 - Pages 6

Martin Luther King Jr Rhetorical Analysis

Within this analysis essay, I will identify three key ways in which Martin Luther King Jr justified the use and morality of nonviolent disobedience to condemn segregation. King justifies his advocation of civil disobedience through the South’s refusal to negotiate, unceasing pleas to “wait”, and its creation of unjust laws. Southern officials refused to confront the issue of racial inequality in the South. By refusing to acknowledge that problems exist, Southern religious and political leaders stemmed…

Words 633 - Pages 3