Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have A Dream” speech exhibits rhetorical elements in which he uses repetition within his strong imagery, logical thoughts, and credible examples to support his argument that all men are created equal and should be treated as such.
In the first paragraph of King’s speech, he immediately evokes Pathos in his audience. He refers to the beacon of light that has been “seared in the flames of withering injustice.” This image casts a feeling of hopelessness and despair. The metaphors invoke an initial feeling in his listeners and grab their attention. The second paragraph continues the strong use of imagery, but he also incorporates a repetition to help strengthen his message. His reference to “One hundred years later” …show more content…
He mentions the Emancipation Proclamation in the very beginning and explains how “joyous” and hopeful the Negro portion of the nation was. The break through of ending slavery, however, proved to be nothing more than a time the African Americans gained independence, but the freedom was still missing. Where the white man walked, the Negro did not dare tread. Because of King’s credible examples, the audience’s fear had left. His listeners knew they had rights, and they deserved and had earned their freedom. King shed light onto a new doorstep for the Negros. With this information the viewers could go out and flourish and spread the newly found fearlessness of the African Americans.
Throughout his speech, Dr. martin Luther King Jr had many examples of rhetorical devices through his use of repetition, imagery, credible examples, and logical thoughts. He created an argument so strong that not a hand in the crowd was sentenced by silence. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,” he said. The last words to leave his lips were “Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at