Introduction
“I Have a Dream” was a call for equality presented by Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) in the 1960s. Due to the careful use of appeals, the speech represents one of his strongest political statements. The piece features all three elements of the rhetorical triangle, thus creating a trust-inducing, touching, and logically consistent message.
Ethos
MLK resorts to appeals to his identity and political/religious figures as a persuasive strategy. He keeps referring to his Black audience as “my people” and acknowledges his experiences with discrimination, establishing his perspective’s trustworthiness (King, 2023, para. 12). Respected sources of evidence, such as the Emancipation Proclamation (EP) and its promise for Black Americans, are mentioned to build a firm foundation for MLK’s claim (King, 2023). Finally, arguments from Christian egalitarianism are applied, implying that even God would support this quest for equality.
Pathos
Pathos helps MLK set an emotional tone for the monologue. He expresses fear for his own children’s future in such a racist environment and establishes his close connection with the “land where my fathers died” (King, 2023, para. 28). The emotional parts have unique intonation patterns to them, helping MLK to express discrimination-related anger (SullenToys.com, 2011). Thus, there are powerful passages that express the suffering of the average Black American.
Logos
Regarding appeals to reason, MLK weaves the facts of discrimination against his race into his speech. These include Black people’s limited mobility, encounters with “whites only” signs, housing segregation, and no equal opportunities despite the EP being in power for a century (King, 2023, para. 15). These forms of evidence support the speaker’s persuasiveness when it comes to establishing the situation’s absurdity and injustice as well as discussing the problem’s actual size.
Conclusion
In summary, the rhetorical triangle’s three constituents permeate MLK’s speech and strengthen its key message. Both ethos and logos add persuasive weight to the piece by demonstrating the evidence of inequality and how authoritative figures would support social change. Pathos adds an emotional component to the piece, making it more expressive.
References
King, M. L., Jr. (2023). Read Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech in its entirety. NPR. Web.
SullenToys. (2011). Martin Luther King – I Have a Dream speech – August 28, 1963 [Video]. YouTube. Web.