Rhetorical Analysis of Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" Speech (Essay Example)

Ethos, pathos, and logos all are rhetorical devices that increase a speech in persuasiveness and in the feeling of the speaker knowing what they are talking about. These devices create strong arguments for problematic issues, such as the topic of racism. In “I Have a Dream” Martin Luther King uses rhetoric, metaphors, and diction to create an authoritative tone that conveys that all men can and should have inherent equal rights. 

Ethos is demonstrated in a way that raises the perspective over individuals, and goes forward to political powers of whole states. King mentions the “governor” of “Alabama” and his hope for “little black” children to “join hands” with “little white” children (King 3). By hinting at the governor, ethos develops the dreams that exceed the common folk and delve into political stances. The bigger picture appears by going from the high powers and their territories to small children and their friend choices. In conclusion, King shows all sides of how racism affects people, as well as how much rights and freedoms for everyone could cause peace.

King’s usage of logos and metaphors furthers this idea of rights for all. King brings up how “all men” have “unalienable rights”, but the blacks have been given a “bad check” that makes it where people are allowed to discriminate against them (King 1). By bringing up this evidence, King makes it clear that everyone is supposed to have guaranteed equal rights, and that the heavy oppression is unfair legally and morally. In addition, King addresses everybody rather than just whites or just blacks by saying all men; this addression of everyone makes the audience more widespread and more likely to have a monumental impact. Concluding this, the large impact would aid the idea of rights for all, which is what King was arguing for.

King brings pathos into his speech in order to appeal to those with children and those who want freedom. He says how he dreams that his “four little children” will not be “judged” and that nation-wide there will be a “great beacon of hope” (King 1, 3). By bringing up his children, King appeals to those who have ones of their own and desire them to not grow up being insecure of characteristics they cannot change, such as skin tone. The mention of the beacon of hope appeals to people without hope, those who want so badly to obtain freedom but it is always out of their grasp. This usage of pathos appeals to a majority of people and it helps aid his problem of unequal rights. 

King’s speech in a summary uses many examples of ethos, pathos, and logos. He utilizes these rhetorical devices to elevate his argument of rights for all; the evidence and appeals persuade his listeners into helping to aid his cause. This display of the complications that racism and its argument, along with solid evidence against this trouble, makes ensures that every listener could be persuaded into King’s side, for freedom for all.