How MLK use ethos, logos, and pathos in his “Dream” speech
Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream” speech was a defining moment of the American Civil Rights Movement. Dr. Martin Luther King made it very clear as he frequently translated some variation of logic or reasoning through out his speech, as the writer or author of the speech he show a lot of credibility and trustworthiness, and also a variation of emotional appeal about what he was saying in his I Have a Dream speech.
Dr. Martin Luther King use of logic and reasoning was when he states, “America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked ‘insufficient funds.’” (Dr. Martin Luther King) He reasons is that everyone understands money and that the listener is able to relate to being handed a bad check. And that the Black African American has suffers way too long.
Dr. Martin Luther King as the writer of the speech he show a lot of credibility and trustworthiness as he delivered his speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial he analogizes Lincoln in his speech, “Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the emancipation proclamation.” (Dr. Martin Luther King) His use of Lincoln brought authority into his speech. Lincoln was a powerful and great president who empowered the American people throughout the civil war. He gained the trust of America and established a new sense of freedom. Martin Luther King is invoking the authority of Lincoln and his view on civil rights. This is providing a strong ethos appeal and establishing credibility with his audience.
His use of pathos is incredible as he strikes emotional values of both colored and white people. His use of metaphors throughout his speech is keeps his audience engaged in his fight for freedom, he states “And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.” (King) He uses the...