Words: 947
Furthermore he uses several forms of appeal and rhetorical devices that make the speech appealing and sincere. One of the things that make a speech good is that it is well-arranged and that it has a structure throughout. You can easily divide I Have a Dream into three chapters, which appear in extension of each other. The first part is historical, which King starts off by pointing out, that he is standing at Abraham Lincoln memorial where the Emancipation proclamation was signed.
He creates a certain atmosphere of fellowship when he mentions something that all Americans are proud of and something they have in moon. Luther King uses a metaphor to depict what the Emancipation proclamation meant to the black people at the time it was signed: “This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice II. 9-12 p. 1” Not only does the use of metaphors make him look well-formulated, which increases his reliability; it also makes it easier for the audience to relate to what he is saying.
In the following chapter he use several metaphors to depict how the blacks still are not free. Among other things he says that they are still crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. It gives the impression that they are held prisoners in their own country which is easy for the audience to picture in their minds. While using metaphors Luther King also uses repetitions to explain how he thinks Americans has broken the promise that they made in the Emancipation proclamation.
He starts off 3 lines after each other with the words “One hundred years after” whereupon he creates pictures of the blacks’ conditions in America with he help of above mentioned metaphors. The repetition gives the audience an impression that he has a lot of arguments to support his statements, which dispose them to believe that what he is saying is the truth. The second chapter starts on line 34 and it can be given the headline now.
This middle part of the speech Martin Luther King moves on from talking about previous events and history, and focuses on how the American citizens must act now, in order to get rid of racial injustice. He uses repetition to get his message across by starting of several lines with “now is the mime to Also in this chapter he uses contrasts to put things into perspective: “In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds” II. 61 p. 1 This quote is also a use of logos, because he appeals to people’s logic sense, when he says that you cannot gain something rightful, with wrongful deeds.
With these words he encourages the Americans not to protest out of bitterness and hatred but instead with dignity and discipline – which also is another contrast. Martin Luther King also refers to several things that America stands for, for example freedom. Knowing that one of the important values of the American culture is that everyone is responsible for themselves and that you have the freedom to create the life you want, he reaches out too lot of people, when referring to it. The last chapter starts on line 92 on the first page.
It revolves around Martin Luther King’s dream, which is to get rid racial discrimination and injustice in America and to create a nation where everyone is equal. King continues to use repetition throughout the last chapter, as he starts the majority of his sentences with “l have a dream”. Also he makes a four-part list as he metaphorically explains that he wants to minimize all negativity and problematic in America: “l have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill shall be made low, the rough places will be made plains, and the crooked places will be made straight” II. 1 p. 2 Very strategically King tries to hit a soft spot in the American hearts, by saying that his dream is deeply rooted in the American dream. It is very obvious that his intention is to play on the people’s national sentiment. He uses pathos several times urine this chapter to appeal to the citizens’ emotion. He also mentions his own children and uses them as an example of why he wishes people not to Judge each other by their skin color but by their character.
This makes him seem very vulnerable and honest, and it has the effect that the ones listening, who has children, can relate to him. King also chooses to refer to god and religion: we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to Join hands II. 93 p. 2 By mentioning religion ND god, King reaches out to the majority of the population – especially since he refers to different religions.
He was a priest himself so it is very natural that he chooses to end of the speech with this aspect. The overall message of the speech is to change America from being a nation where people are Judged by their skin color and where people are not equal. Kings message is to remind the people of America that the American dream stands for equality and freedom, and that with racial discrimination those two things are not achieved. Lastly his message is his dream of a better and improved America.