It is approximated that more than 200000 people gathered at Washington on March 28 1963 at the Lincoln memorial. In this place, Martin Luther delivered an emotional speech I have dream which focused on the injustices of discrimination and segregation of African American in the society. By the use of the artificial proofs such as ethos, Lagos and pathos, he was in a position to tell people whose eyes were close by the color of the skin that all people are equal and color of the skin should not divide people (Bade 612). By use of these styles, he managed to put individuals in an emotional state where consideration that all individuals are the same was the order of the day. The author of this paper champions that, use of some styles in writing a speech enhance an ardent attraction and understanding of the listeners.
Luther King uses ethos to relay the message using an example of him. He says, “we can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy fatigue with travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways of the hotels in the city”. He further tells that not even a single day would go when a black skin is not subjected to humiliation and brutality acts of the police. This gives credibility in this speech as it brings effectiveness in what King Luther is saying. It has portrayed high level of effectiveness since himself is an American African who knows what his discriminated brothers are going through. The people come to understand this since he brings a real image of what is happening.
Secondly King’s usage of logos made his speech excellent. To many people his speech is almost unforgettable. He started the speech by demonstrating to people the history of America and later explains reason for the gathering (Bade 612). This organization of the speech makes it stick on peoples mind forever. He says “now is the time to open the doors of opportunity to all God’s children.to lift our nation from the quicksand of racial injustices to the solids rock of brotherhood”. He told be people the reality of how things were and the way they should be. After summing up his points, he used some of the powerful words to remain in peoples mind (Colin et al 195). He says, Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are Free at last. This logos style makes this speech real forever.
Martin Luther uses pathos style when he approaches the audience and sees them on the same category as they were and spoke on their hearts and not his heart. His voice and gestures could emphasize some specific words. He says “let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred”. People remain to remind this when he sings the verse from the bible that it is the day when all God’s children will be singing a new meaning of life (Colin et al 195). The speech of indiscrimination will remain on people’s mind forever. Pathos style made the speech meaningful.
In Conclusion, Martin Luther King displays articulate and skill full use of rhetoric skills in his speech. These styles and skills give the audience the meaning of the speech. At last some were thinking what has been happening is wrong. He gives an example using himself, he not only talked on his heart but also on people’s heart. Use of these appealing styles made his speech remain unforgettable to all generations.
Work Cited
Bade, David. "Ethos, Logos, Pathos Or Sender, Message, Receiver?: A Problematological Rhetoric For Information Technologies." Cataloging & Classification Quarterly 47.7 (2009): 612
Colin, Higgins, and Walker Robyn. "Ethos, Logos, Pathos: Strategies Of Persuasion In Social/Environmental Reports." Accounting Forum 36.Analyzing the Quality, Meaning and Accountability of Organizational Communication. 194-208
