Alexis Ruckman

Persuasive
IHAD
10/29/13
Within Martin Luther King Jr.s empowering speech I Have a Dream he persuades the civil
rights activists and antagonists of equality in front of the Lincoln memorial, during the marches; King
shifts from the dark oppression of injustices in society to the bright, joyous prospect of the future to
encourage the audience to continue fighting until justice prevails, ridding America of segregation to
ensure racial equality so the Negros will be free at last (37).
By distinguishing the struggle and hardships of the Negros they can build upon the
fundamentals of America and bring a brighter, better future about, that includes equality for all, in so
King Jr. realizes the optimistic prospect for America by persuading them to identify the auspicious
future. In the hopeful anaphora of I have a dream king tries to prove that Negros have a positive
forthcoming by persuading them so of the bright future for America. The anaphora is strategically placed
throughout the speech, this is important because the multiple uses adds emphasize. The anaphora
contributes to the overarching tone by giving the people something to believe in. The anaphora of I
have a dream is important because this helps in fulfilling pathos, it contributes to pathos because it
touched their hearts, made them feel, made them want change, and in wanting that, some change was
in order, he also uses the appeal that he is a father and wants more for his children, this allows the
audience to relate to him in this sense, his dreams are for his children. King Jr. uses the quote
throughout the speech to add emphasis, it affects the audience by making them want change; it is
effective because it set in motion the change for the future. The anaphora relates to the need to
encourage the audience to continue fighting until justice prevails, ridding America of segregation by not
only sharing his dream with the audience but sharing his vulnerability with them as well, this is
strengthened by the Negros want to be equal. Not only is there anaphora in I had a dream but there is
heavy diction in dream. The diction contributes to the overarching tone by giving the people hope; it
does so by giving the people something to believe in, the diction is important because the way that
dream is referred to means the most desirable ideal, he wants the situation of suffering to change to a
more ideal, perfect situation. The connotation of the word dream has a positive connotation it makes
the audience think he has a positive dream , which he does, he has a dream that his children will one
day be equal to the children of a white person. King Jr. uses the diction of dream to add importance, it
affects the audience by making them believe in his dream, it is effective because the audience now takes
his dream as theirs also. The diction relates to the need to encourage the audience to continue fighting
until justice prevails, ridding America of segregation by his word choice he can appeal to the emotions of
the people, this strengthens the authors purpose by using pathos to strengthen the audiences want for
racial equality. King uses abstract language to say that his dream was not an unconscious thought, it is
what he consciously wants, and he consciously wants equality for the Negros.