Critique of Martin Luther’s speech

Everyone, at one time in life, is asked to give a speech to an audience. After the speech, the speaker either leaves the audience satisfied or not convinced of the speaker’s speech. Speakers use various stylistic techniques to convince their audience that they are correct, factual or to simply pass information. The stylistic techniques assists audience to digests the speech better where the speaker cannot address given concerns directly. Martin Luther King is renowned speaker due to use of his stylistic technique in his speech “I have a Dream”. This paper analyses the different stylistic techniques that Luther used to pass his message.

Repetition

Luther uses repetition to emphasize his points. The phrase, “one hundred years later” is an emphasis that America had not dropped racism one hundred years after gaining independence. Another example is the phrase, “I have a dream, “one hundred years later”, “we must”, “Go Back to”, “Now is the time” which are repeated severally in various successive sentences. The repetitive us of the phrase, “Now is the time” was to emphasize that an action had to be taken then. American Negros’ had waiting long before the hammer of justice struck. The repetition helps emphasize given concepts and point in his speech and in making the words easier to memorize and, by extension, the whole speech. The other word mostly repeated is “freedom” (repeated 20 times) which is an important word in this speech’s theme, fight for freedom.

Anaphora

The speaker uses anaphora which is repeating syllables or words at the start of neighboring clauses. This is normally used in rhetoric devices. Through anaphora, a pattern or rhythm is set, and repeating the words also stresses rhythm and enhances rhetorical effect. This is evident with Luther’s repetitive use of “I have a dream”.

Chiasmus

Chiasmus is the inversion in the second of two parallel phrases. Luther used this when he said, “……..fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling…” These are two different contradicting statements.

Allusions

Recalling historical background and referring to given times is a useful technique used in speeches and can be executed explicitly through direct quote or implicitly through allusion. Martin Luther improves credibility of the information he relays by referring to some renown credible speakers like famous Gettysburg’s words, “Five score years ago…”. The other case is where Luther refers to United States Declaration of Independence’s constitution.

Amplification

This is where a speaker uses extra material or information to illustrate a given concept. Luther uses this technique to explain why Negro had to have their rate as he says that that the American government had obligation of keeping human rights. Luther refers to America’s constitution which quoted human rights.

Metaphor

Metaphor allows a speaker to link concepts form the speech with specific emotions or images. To highlight the differences between two points, speaker does associate the points with contrasting specific metaphors. In his speech, to contrast isolation with racial justice, Luther recalls the complementary metaphor of dark and deserted valley (signifying isolation) and a sunlight path (signifying racisms). Example are seen when he uses the words and phrases, “daybreak”, “long night”, “dark and desolate valley”, and, “lonely island”.

To explain what he meant further, Luther uses metaphor contrasting the racial condition in America and 100 years , and the then condition as well as future condition. For example Luther uses the phrase (metaphor), “signing the promissory note” to remind Americans of the promises their constitution guaranteed.

BdelygmiaThis is a long and tedious address or recital of abusive criticism. Luther uses this technique to criticize the government of their negligence in keeping human rights. Luther says, “we’ve come…..to cash a check”….and further says, “when architects…..wrote magnificent words of constitution….”. This is litany to the government. Luther further stated that, “we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt” directly signify the government failed as far as human rights were concerned. This is a venomous language where Luther attempts to express blame or censure bitten deep-seated ill will against the state government.

Irony

Luther uses irony in various instances as though not to directly convey information to the audience. He wants the audience to think for itself and interpret the meaning. For example, Luther said, “……..fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling…” is actually ironic. Luther talked of fierce urgency then urgently mentions luxury of cooling and his words…”tranquilizing drug of gradualism…” made his speech both visual and ironic.

In conclusion, Luther’s speech met the targeted audience and purpose for which Luther had in mind, to highlight racisms in America. The stylistic techniques used by the speaker successfully passed the message to the audience.