Answer:
Rhetorical Essay about Martin Luther King Speech
Step-by-step explanation:
Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech is one of the most famous speeches in history. It is still remembered and celebrated to this day, as it was a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement and a powerful rallying cry for justice and equality.
In the speech, King uses a variety of rhetorical strategies to engage and move his audience. He begins the speech by establishing ethos, or an appeal to ethics, by emphasizing the importance of the moment and the responsibility of the audience to take action. He says, “Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. 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.”
King also uses pathos, or an appeal to emotion, to grab the attention of his audience. He speaks of the suffering of African Americans, saying, “But one hundred years later, the Negro is still not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination.”
King also utilizes anaphora, or the repetition of a phrase or clause at the beginning of sentences, to emphasize his points and draw his audience in. He says, “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 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 brotherhood.”
Finally, King uses logos, or an appeal to logic, to make his argument more convincing. He speaks of the importance of justice, saying, “Let us not wallow in the valley of despair. I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.”
The purpose of King’s speech was to inspire and motivate his audience to take action and push for civil rights. He wanted to create a sense of urgency and to show that the time for change was now. He also wanted to bring people together and create a sense of unity among all races and classes. Through his use of powerful rhetoric, he was able to galvanize his audience and help spark the civil rights movement.
Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech is one of the most iconic and influential pieces of rhetoric in history. Its message of justice, equality, and unity still resonates today and it is a reminder of the power of words to bring people together and move them to action. Its continued relevance and power are a testament to King’s rhetorical genius and his ability to move and motivate an audience.