Martin Luther King I Have A Dream Speech Analysis

Well known leaders receive popularity and support from the audience by creating a strong speech that catches listeners’ attention. On August 28, 1963, people from all over the world listen to Martin Luther King Jr.’s most famous speech, “I Have a Dream.” Dr. King’s persuasive language stirs the crowd and encourages the country to put an end to segregation towards African Americans. His “dream” stimulates the audience to work for equality in the United States by using literary techniques. He tells people to put an end to the civil disobedience being practiced in America. Dr. King uses allusions, anaphoras, and imagery in his speech, causing listeners to desire and feel the need to advocate change.
Dr. King uses an allusion and references the beginning of his speech to an important time in history. He does this for a specific purpose, which is to remind his listeners of the promises not met by the American Constitution. An analysis of the speech states that, “King alludes to several different works. King’s ideas make the audience remember important parts of the past. Lincoln signed the “Emancipation Proclamation” that declared blacks were no longer to be treated like property. The Emancipation Proclamation had been written a hundred years ago. Yet, in all that time, racial equality had decreased (Anson L. para. 5).” King alludes to 100 years in the past when the
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Emancipation Proclamation is signed. The Proclamation is a very important document that declares freedom for the blacks. After all of that time, black people still do not have the freedom that the Proclamation promises. The audience feels terrible about breaking their promise and never giving black people the freedom that they deserve. In the speech King says, ...

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...re being taken away. The rules of society divide freedom from the blacks. The image of a sign saying, “For Whites Only” is a strong message of how greatly unjust the rules set on black people are. Black people do not receive their dignity and people only judge them by their looks. The other image of innocent children’s dignity and worth being taken away because of their looks captures the audience’s attention and proves how justice should be acted upon now. King’s use of imagery has a great impact on the audience. The audience is aware of the injustice of the nation and is driven to make a change.
King’s speech is an eye opener for many because of its persuasiveness. The use of many rhetorical devices made it possible for Dr. King to move so many of his listeners. He reminds the audience that people, no matter what color, should have equal rights and deserve freedom.