Martin_Luther_King_Jr_I_Have_a_Dream_Speech

He Has a Dream Martin Luther King Jr. not only connected with the people, but he also appealed to them emotionally and ethically as well. Throughout his speech he utilizes these methods to gain popular support for his cause while maintaining a certain imperative style. He appeals to the audience's ethics with the example "Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity." By appealing to the audience's ethical standards, the author is able to better communicate with them because he gains respect from the example. By gaining respect he is able to gain vast support out of them. The author not only connects with the audience ethically, but emotionally as well. By mixing the two appeals together, he is able to create a bond with them that will ensure loyalty and support. The example "the Negro is still not free...The Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination..." By connecting to the audience on an emotional level the author is able to have better results by pushing them towards action, not just words. Martin Luther King Jr. not only utilizes many key devices, but he connects with the audience on two different levels. He connects with them emotionally as well as ethically, while supporting those appeals with strong literary and syntactical terms such as figurative language and anaphora. He is able to achieve the goal of gaining support of both blacks and whites while also promoting action amongst them. Not only does he call for action, but he calls for it NOW.