Martin Luther King Case

Martin Luther King Jr's famous "I Have A Dream" speech utilizes the power of rhetoric and the effect it can have on an audience. Written and presented by King on August 28, 1963 in Washington, D.C. he uses diction, symbolism, and repetition. These rhetorical strategies demonstrate ethos, pathos, and logos that allow King to connect with the audience and help them understand his message on a deeper level.

The speech begins with resounding diction that creates a logical and emotional appeal on the audience. The purpose of King's speech is to elucidate on the plight of African-American's living in the United States. By stating that he is grateful for everyone who attended "the greatest demonstration of freedom" the speech is already creating an appeal of pathos. He then goes on to create a logical appeal when testifying that the Emancipation Proclamation gave "hope to millions of Negro slaves who had seared in the flames of withering injustice". The Emancipation Proclamation was the first event where African-American's were given rights. King's strong word choice and the audience's personal experiences of discrimination allow them to now understand that African-American's were made false promises by the United States.

King uses symbolism to further expand on these false promises and to explain to the audience why there must be equality for all races. He compares the "sacred obligation" that the United States has given to the African-Americans during that time as a "bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds". The assertion is that the United States has made promises to the African-Americans, however, those promises are empty. The entire speech is a call to action telling the audience to rise up and demonstrate their freedom. King tells the audience that it is time to make "real the promise of democracy" and "it is time to rise