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Meghan Gonzales
ENGL15 – Assignment 2: Rhetorical Analysis
June 17, 2018
“I have a dream”: Rhetorical Analysis
“I have a dream speech” is among the most significant speeches in the American history.
This gratifying speech marked the start of the most important period in the African American
community as they thrived in the land of the White Americans. Martin Luther King used
influential rhetoric as a way of planting a new perspective in people’s minds and make them in a
unified society that redefined how African Americans viewed freedom and liberty. King’s logic
on social reconstruction was same as that of Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violent social response to
distinct arrangements that do not support the welfare of the people as a whole.
Martin Luther King had attained a reputation amongst the numerous that were preceded
to him globally as a motivational spiritual speaker and a well-known civil rights activist. It is
therefore easier to imagine him as a great man who spoke in church with a great congregation of
individuals all with the desire to embrace life’s most distinct benefits from a society that thrives
in equality. This congregation was in search of equality; sadly, quite a number of them were
ready and willing to utilize violence to pursue justice. Therefore, Martin Luther had the
challenge and significant task to speak to the people to inspire them to thrive to act out non-
violently. To support his advocacy, King utilized various elements in his speech including logos,
ethos and pathos to instruct as well as effectively inspire his audience. He implemented cautious
word choice, and even created a common ground. Additionally, he successfully created an
intensive oriented call to action to effectively achieving his main objective while maintaining his
non-violence stance.
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Luther King Jr had his thoughts fixed on a brighter future which both the majority and
minority could have equal shares and rights in the society and focus on building a nation that is
free from discrimination. His rhetoric inspired people and gave the black Americans hope. This
advocacy gained him thousands of supporters and followers both coming from the black and the
white American communities.
Using ethos, Luther King Jr starts the speech saying: “I am happy to join with you today
in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our
nation”. In these opening lines, King expresses his delight to see the people and realize their
support for what he was pursuing to suggest to the society which immediately engages his
listeners into what he as about to say. He also uses logos and pathos in the introduction s to
capture and associate with the audience. His happiness is as a result of the reflection of strength
