Allusion in i have a dream speech

The King of Equality Comment by Katie: Thoughtful title!

On August 28, 1936 Martin Luther King Jr. gave one of the best known speeches in American history. When people commemorate the “I Have a Dream” speech, as it has come to be identified, they recall King’s powerful message about civil rights and the true meaning of freedom in America. In the famous “I Have a Dream” speech, Martin Luther King Jr. uses a number of rhetorical devices in order to match his word choice to the strength of his message. Numerous examples of allusion, parallelism, and anaphora are used as tactics to amplify the intensity of his message. Comment by Katie: Great thesis—it makes a clear claim and provides a forecast of your paper’s outline.

King begins his speech with a reference to the Gettysburg address, “Five score years ago…” (King par. 2). The opening allusion is exceptionally moving given that King spoke in front of the Lincoln Memorial. King uses examples of allusions, or references to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance. Allusions can be direct or indirect, and are often used to broaden the reader’s understanding. The Gettysburg Address is not the only historical piece referenced in King’s speech; the Declaration of Independence is also referenced in paragraph four of the “I Have a Dream” speech. The speech reads, “This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the ‘unalienable Rights’ of ‘Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness’" (King par. 4). Martin Luther King Jr. addresses the Declaration of Independence in order to get his supporters to recognize the equal rights that they deserve as Americans. In order to provide an honorable basis, King uses numerous biblical allusions. Two examples of biblical allusions used in the speech include Psalms 30:5 and Jeremiah 2:13. King cries ‘It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.” (King par. 2) referring to Psalms 30:5, “For his anger is but for a moment; his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning” (Dlugan, Andrew). Martin Luther King Jr. is expressing that the struggle for the black community was long and hard but the freedom they will receive will last a lifetime. Jeremiah 2:13 was also a biblical verse King evokes in his speech proclaiming, “Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred,” (King par. 8) referring to Jeremiah 2:13, “For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living water, and dug out cisterns for themselves, cracked cisterns that can hold no water” (Dlugan, Andrew). King is using this biblical verse to explain to his people that they must fight peacefully, without violence and hatred, and if they do they will be rewarded for their peaceful behavior. Comment by Katie: It may be a good idea to start a new paragraph here, since you’re transitioning to a new idea. Comment by Katie: Use the author’s last name and page (or paragraph) number here. Comment by Katie: Be sure to keep verb tense consistent!

The rhetorical device, parallelism, is used in the “I Have a Dream” speech in order to excite the crowd and unite them as one to fight for the same goal. Parallelism is used when King decrees, “Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed” (King par. 14). With the repetition of the phrase “go back…” King is electrifying his crowd. Equality of the people fighting together is revealed when King announces, “With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day,” (King par. 26) this is understood with the repetition of the word “together.” With the use of parallelism in Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech he is uniting his supporters, both black and white, to fight together for rights they should equally be able to celebrate and enjoy as Americans. Comment by Katie: Nice explanation of why King uses parallelism!

· Anaphora is yet another rhetorical device used in King’s speech in order make many lines of his speech memorable, and used to emphasize King’s points. “I have a dream” is repeated throughout King’s speech, first in paragraph seventeen, addressing the nation’s future hopes of equality. “We can never (cannot) be satisfied…” (King par. 10) is also a phrase continued throughout King’s speech in order to bespeak the issues in the United States that need to change in order for King’s dream to become a reality. Another anaphora that is sprinkled throughout King’s speech is “Let freedom ring (from)…” (King par. 30). With the repetition of this phrase King is expressing that inequality and racism will come to an end from coast to coast in the United States and freedom will ring. Although King’s entire speech was groundbreaking with the use of anaphora he was able to accentuate his main themes of retrieving freedom and justice while maintaining peace, and overall accomplishing his dream of equality for all in the United States. Comment by Katie: Add a comma after this introductory clause.

Martin Luther King is aware of how the foundation of the United States was established and he has legitimate principles of how it’s being misunderstood and the changes that need to be made. With the use of several rhetorical devices Martin Luther King Jr.’s strong word choice matched the power of his message. Abundant examples of allusion, parallelism, and anaphora are used as tactics to intensify the passion of his message. King uses allusion in order to demonstrate the equivalent worth of both cultures with the reference to the Declaration of Independence and an African American spiritual song. Parallelism is used in King’s speech in order to amp up his crowd and is very successful in this case. Lastly, anaphora makes several lines and points memorable in King’s speech. King continues his speech by discussing with the crowd how they can work for change. The aspect of true freedom is addressed very well throughout King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. The fight for freedom is a boundless battle but with King’s determination our country was brought closer to one day truly understanding the idea of true freedom. Comment by Katie: Since you’re now looking back on King’s speech, it would be appropriate to use past tense here.

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Works Cited

Dlugan, Andrew. "Speech Analysis: I Have a Dream – Martin Luther King Jr." Six Minutes RSS. Six Minutes, 4 Dec. 2012. Web. 11 Mar. 2015.

King, Martin Luther, Jr. "Martin Luther King I Have a Dream Speech - American Rhetoric." Martin Luther King I Have a Dream Speech - American Rhetoric. U.S. Copyright. Web. 11 Feb. 2015. Speech.