Ethos, the appeal to the legitimacy and authority of the speaker, is used throughout the speech. As example, King uses I have a dream that one day and Let freedom ring.. to open his points on how Americans should change against racial indifferences. assume youre on board with our, Martin Luther King Jr. vs. President Obama, https://graduateway.com/rhetorical-analysis-of-martin-luther-kings-beyond-vietnam-a-time-to-break-silence/. The irony is explicit in Kings words that the war is just an attempt to cover and hide the more pressing issues before America. Moreover, this set of diction allows King to logically state that he can not continue to fight on behalf of the oppressed if he himself doesn't address their oppressor, the U.S. government. "The Fine Art of Baloney Detection" Essay by Carl Sagan. In Martin Luther King Jr's passionate speech about America's involvement in Vietnam, he manages to create a strong and compelling argument that America's involvement in unjust . To start, Dr. Kings use of metaphors allows his audience to understand his viewpoint better. It is why he constructs an argument that will help people decide which side to stand with and which to not. Through this speech, and his ideals of determination, many rhetorical devices are put to use to drive forth these points. Thank you for sharing this page with a friend! writing your own paper, but remember to * Hyperlink the URL after pasting it to your document, American Women Struggle in the 20th Century, Charlottesville Tragedy: Racial Issue in the USA, Prison Staffing and Correctional Officers Duties, Gender Issues in the Us Correctional System. And, to argue that King 's most radical days were never fulfilled; that his next campaign was to confront the president over the Vietnam War and economic disparity, a direct confrontation with a president over an immoral war state Hill and Wang from the book review. In conclusion, Martin Luther King, Jr uses ethos, pathos, and logos, among other rhetorical devices, to support his argument that American policy in Vietnam was inconsistent with its treatment of African-Americans in the United States. Apart from highlighting the wicked nature of the war, King Jr 's speech also sets the urgency for protest. (2016, Nov 14). Over the past two years, as I have moved to break the betrayal of my own silences and to speak from the burnings of my own heart, as I have called for radical departures from the destruction of Vietnam, many persons have questioned me about the wisdom of my path. Rhetorical Analysis of MLK's Speech "Beyond Vietnam" December 22, 2016 By Richcoca PLATINUM, Canoga Park, California More by this author Widely known for his work in the Civil Rights Movement,. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. First of all, King makes his point clear by appealing to the reader's common sense, beliefs and values (logos). King also links the issue to the question of Americas integrity. By expressing how much he believes in the American dream and a new dawn, it reassures people that even though there is little progress at a time, King will always fight not only for himself, but his family, friends, and all those who are not held to the same respect. Widely known for his work in the Civil Rights Movement, Martin Luther King Jr eventually also gained momentum in the anti-war movement against the war in Vietnam. This essay was written by a fellow student. It is not typical for churches to do so. For instance, he does when he depicts the, "Negro and white boys on TV screens as they kill and die together for a nation that has been unable to seat them together in the same schools." King calms the African Americans who are being oppressed by using the words, this situation can and will be changed. and Let us not wallow in the valley of despair. which gives them hope that there will be a new day when a change will take place. All of the valid arguments and vivid imagery Dr. King uses combine to make this a very effective, passionate and memorable speech. In his speech on the meaninglessness of the Vietnam war and to persuade the audience to listen to its own conscience rather than to conform to the idea of war in the name of patriotism, King Jr draws from the realms of economy, society, polity as well as religion and philosophy. King uses emotional words and descriptions to capture the audiences attention and convey the injustices caused by the Vietnam War. The persuasive techniques utilized by King Jr are aimed at making people think over the outcomes of Vietnam war and if it was not against Americas integrity. 4 May. Disclaimer: Services provided by StudyCorgi are to be used for research purposes only. He does it to engage peoples imagination and to awaken their consciences. Just like the people of America, the Vietnamese also have a right to live free on the lands of their fathers. Additionally, when King claims that all this horror is in the name of America, he appeals to his audience's anger, leading them to believe that it is time for them to break silence on the fact that the United States became involved in an unjust war in Vietnam. While his words clearly deliver his disappointment over the path American government had chosen, it also expresses a clear intention to not be with the wrong and instead listen to ones inner voice. Acting almost as a climax, King lyrically urges his audience to voice their opinions and wage a war against this unjustified war in Vietnam. He shows a strong theme of determination, along with dedication, and perseverance. In this way, while he successfully draws a parallel between the struggles of Vietnamese people and that of the Americans, he also lays the foundation for the next stages of his argument. Additionally, when King claims that all this horror is in the name of America, he appeals to his audience's anger, leading them to believe that it is time for them to break silence on the fact that the United States became involved in an unjust war in Vietnam. He states, Many people have questioned me about the wisdom of my path. King's criticism of the war as "broken and eviscerated," allows him to establish a disappointed tone that conveys the idea that the war is immoral and by doing so his precise word choice lets him to attack it as such. Apart from drawing a parallel between the situation in Vietnam and America, he shows neither stood to gain from it. Through the emotional, destruction of America's effort to support the war, King's powerful use of diction talking the loss of desire and new lives causes the audience to feel sorry for the poor of America. Through his compelling arguments and moral vision, King inspired many people to join the movement against the Vietnam War and to work for a more just and peaceful world. He evaluates the psychological as well as social, political and economic implications of America's participation in Vietnam war. Pathos is a method applied to represent an appeal to feelings and emotions in a speech and other various kinds of writing. Rhetorical Analysis In King's Beyond Vietnam. While pathos elicits an emotional response from the audience to make them more accepting of Kings ideas, repetition structures the speech and emphasizes key ideas for the audience to take away from listening. The third section is King's call for change. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. If you have a suggestion about this website or are experiencing a problem with it, or if you need to report abuse on the site, please let us know. The audience now feel as though this is very important because it has to do with regular poor people and t effects them as well. A lot of parts from Martin Luther Kings dream have come true, but it is still not all that is how King wanted it to be. Perhaps the most convincing part of the speech is the emotional appeal. The war was only going to consume lives and resources. In a solemn tone, he talks about their crops being destroyed and their water being poisoned, presumably referring to Agent Orange. Right at the outset, King involves religious figures to establish the credibility for his reason and to prove that war was improper and inhuman. [emailprotected] America is overlooking its own poor and pouring resources into a war which does not offer any political, economic or social advantage. Rhetorical Mlk Speech "Beyond Vietnam". report, Rhetorical Analysis of Martin Luther Kings Beyond Vietnam: a Time to Break Silence. Dr. King says, Even when pressed by the demands of inner truth, men do not easily assume the task of opposing their governments policy, especially in time of war (3). However, he wishes that they would have lived up to his respect, and continues to hope that they will do so in the future. Instead, King chooses to use facts to show what an illness war is. For example, this quote personifies war as being an enemy. Favorite Quote:Failures help one grow as a person. Moreover, this set of diction allows King to logically state that he can not continue to fight on behalf of the oppressed if he himself doesnt address their oppressor, the U.S. government. He expresses that the first step toward equality as the earth moving and nations running with fear. 663 Words; Martin Luther King Jr. Src: Pixabay Read a rhetorical analysis of Martin Luther King Jr's Beyond Vietnam: Time to break silence. In Dr. Martin Luther Kings speech Beyond VietnamA Time to Break Silence (1967), Dr. King asserts that the war in Vietnam is totally immoral and has far reaching negative implications not only for Vietnam, but for The United States and the rest of the World as well. He quotes Langston Hughes, in his speech to establish a connection between the struggle for civil liberty in United States and the oppression in Vietnam. His masterful delivery of these metaphors and the frequent repetition makes the speech much like a poem or a part of a song. King is effectively able to convey his point about his topic by using rhetorical devices such as logos, ethos, pathos. Additionally, by constructing an optimistic view on the civil rights situation during that time period and immediately refuting it, King is able to establish a strong sense of, Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the most influential leaders of his time and played a crucial role in the African-American Civil Rights movement. When he argues that the war's immoral nature should be "incandescently clear," he implies to his audience that those who do not voice their opinion against the war are not concerned for, "the integrity and life of America.". Issues have been resolved because now the draft is less common because more people volunteer for war so the poor are not forced. Finally, Martin Luther King Jr. uses parallelism within his own reflection to evoke emotions in his audience to show that . A Time to do What is Right. Which of your works would you like to tell your friends about? Martin Luther King Jr. applies imagery throughout his speech in order to illustrate the horrors of the war to arouse anger at its atrocities and injustice. Furthermore, when these stylistic elements are concluded with his use of parallelism, King effectively establishes Americas involvement in the Vietnam War as unjust. Please enter the email address that you use to login to TeenInk.com, and we'll email you instructions to reset your password. In case you can't find a relevant example, our professional writers are ready In Martin Luther King Jr.s speech Beyond Vietnam- A Time to Break Silence, delivered at Riverside Church in New York City on April 4, 1967, he claims that the American involvement in the Vietnam War is unjust. Nothing evokes a more emotional response than the image of children suffering or being killed. It allows them to imagine what might happen if America were to keep fighting in the war. Through his use of imagery, diction, and parallel structure, Martin Luther King Jr associates the war in Vietnam with injustice in his famous speech, "Beyond Vietnam - A Time to Break Silence.". These two techniques played a crucial role in furthering his purpose and in provoking a powerful response from the audience that made this speech memorable and awe-inspiring. This quote is referencing how poor and rich people were drafted to war but the poor people had no one left to support the family. In this way, he personifies war as a demon that consumes people's lives and a nation's valuable resources which would otherwise be happy if it was not being ruined by bombs and bullets. In addition, his use of parallelism allows him to appeal to his audiences pity for the oppressed in order for him to express his call to action, a call for activism that goes beyond Vietnam. In the article "Beyond Vietnam", Martin Luther argues that war in Vietnam has far reaching affects that not only rapaciously take away America's resources, but make an immediate impact on African Americans perspective on the civil rights movement. Since an autopsy is only done on dead creatures, King is saying that eventually, the soul of America might die. The imagery paints a dark picture in the audiences mind. Registration number: 419361 Rhetorical Analysis Of Beyond Vietnam: A Time To Break Silence By Martin Luther King "Beyond Vietnam-A Time to Break Silence" is an article written by Martin Luther King Jr himself. Thomas 1 Javon Thomas Mrs. Yelton English 1301 - Period 4 14 September 2018 Beyond Vietnam Rhetorical Analysis Essay In Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech, Beyond Vietnam-A Time to Break Silence, King discusses his opinion on America's involvement in the Vietnam War. He does this by appealing to certain issues the public see as important, using irony, and using diction and tone in persuasive ways. Not to mention, many young people protested because they were the ones being drafted while others were against the war because the anti-war movement grew increasingly popular among the counterculture and drug culture in American society and. In front of over 3000 people at the New York Riverside Church King preaches to a room filled with clergy and laymen concerned about the Vietnam. To get his point through and make the meaning clear, King uses phrases like break the silence of the night, a vocation of agony, based upon the mandates of conscience, deeper level of awareness. This makes the irony explicit and that Vietnam being a smaller and weaker nation was being made to face injustice which it never deserved or desired. What Is the Macro Environment in Business Analysis? Not to mention, many young people protested because they were the ones being drafted while others were against the war because the anti-war movement grew increasingly popular among the counterculture and drug culture in American society and. At last the paper discusses and assesses how to what an extent Kings dream came true with self-elected sources as backrest for the asses. "Beyond Vietnam-A Time to Break Silence" is an article written by Martin Luther King Jr himself. In Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech "Beyond Vietnam- A Time to Break Silence", delivered at Riverside Church in New York City on April 4, 1967, he claims that the American involvement in the Vietnam War is unjust. Apart from being an advocate of Mahatma Gandhi's idea of nonviolence, Martin Luther King Jr was a great leader and rhetor of all times. To achieve this, he used rhetorical strategies such as appeal to pathos and repetition. These arguments work because they point out that even though the war is not happening on our soil, it is having a devastating effect here, especially in poor areas where people cannot afford to be hindered any more than they already are. Rhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King Beyond Vietnam 534 Words | 3 Pages In 1967, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his speech "Beyond Vietnam-A Time to Break Silence." In the speech, King argues against American involvement in the Vietnam War and explains why he cannot remain silent. Analyzes the literary device martin luther king jr. uses in his speech is allusions, adding to the importance on how awful the vietnam war was corrupting the united states. To make his claims stand out and have a deeper impact, he uses instances from Vietnamese history to show the level of injustice faced by its people how war has destabilized them. Also, if you have a comment about a particular piece of work on this website, please go to the page where that work is displayed and post a comment on it. Is Hydrogen Fuel Efficient Enough to Replace Fossil Fuels in the Near Future. Nothing could be lower than being placed parallel to the senseless violence of Nazi Germany. All rights reserved. When he argues that the wars immoral nature should be incandescently clear, he implies to his audience that those who do not voice their opinion against the war are not concerned for, the integrity and life of America. Finally, Martin Luther King Jr. uses parallelism within his own reflection to evoke emotions in his audience to show that . For instance, he does when he depicts the, Negro and white boys on TV screens as they kill and die together for a nation that has been unable to seat them together in the same schools. The image of death, as powerful as it is, becomes amplified when Martin Luther King associates the injustices of segregation with the Vietnam war. And, to argue that King 's most radical days were never fulfilled; that his next campaign was to confront the president over the Vietnam War and economic disparity, a direct confrontation with a president over an immoral war state Hill and Wang from the book review. Dr. King paints a vivid, heart-wrenching picture of the devastation in Vietnam. It also describes the Jim Crow laws and the busboy cot from 1955. Rhetorical Analysis of MLK's Speech "Beyond Vietnam" Widely known for his work in the Civil Rights Movement, Martin Luther King Jr eventually also gained momentum in the anti-war movement against the war in Vietnam. (These links will automatically appear in your email.). If you are the original creator of this paper and no longer wish to have it published on StudyCorgi, request the removal. Despite criticism from speaking out about things other than civil rights, King uses syntax, rhetorical strategies, and appeals to . His use of diction and imagery arouses anger while increasing his credibility since he criticizes the unjust war he describes. A comment like this doesnt leave the reader unmoved. The speech deemed racial segregation to be an inhumane practice that subdivides society into groups that essentially alienate them from the true sense of humanity; which is brotherhood. It is why while he attacks America's intervention in Vietnam on the one hand, on the other he brings people's attention towards the other side of life where America can become a beacon of hope and peace for the entire world including Vietnam. His audience at Riverside Church, likely familiar with his Civil Rights work, would most likely than view him with more credibility because they too could sympathize to an injustice done by the American government. He says we were taking the black young men who had been crippled by our society and sending them eight thousand miles away to guarantee liberties in Southeast Asia which they had not found in southwest Georgia and East Harlem. King uses this statement to point out the inconsistency with America trying to establish freedom far away before establishing freedom on their own home soil. Through his use of imagery, diction, and parallel structure, Martin Luther King Jr associates the war in Vietnam with injustice in his famous speech, Beyond Vietnam A Time to Break Silence. Martin Luther King Jr. applies imagery throughout his speech in order to illustrate the horrors of the war to arouse anger at its atrocities and injustice. The paper also analyzes Martin Luther Kings speech I have a dream with the purpose of rhetorical devices and how well they have been used in the speech, and how Afro-Americans conditions have been at the time. Finally, Martin Luther King Jr. uses parallelism within his own reflection to evoke emotions in his audience to show that . His choice of words in the speech is meant to have a direct effect on the audience's psychology. On August 28th, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr gave us one of one of the most rhetorically moving speeches ever given. Martin Luther King Jr is an African American preacher and civil rights activist that along with every other African American male and female in 1976 was waging a war in America for their not-so-natural born rights. Luther starts off by explaining that Vietnam heavily takes away valuable money of the US. However, his speech is not filled entirely with only emotionally charged words and phrases or just with pictures of war and destruction or poverty. In 1967, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his speech Beyond Vietnam-A Time to Break Silence. In the speech, King argues against American involvement in the Vietnam War and explains why he cannot remain silent. cite it correctly. We Will Write a Custom Case Study SpecificallyFor You For Only $13.90/page! To further strengthen, the credibility of his argument and question the morality behind the war, he says, Since I am a preacher by calling, I suppose it is not surprising that I have seven major reasons for bringing Vietnam into the field of my moral vision. Dont This is a logical fact with which no one can argue. The war lasted from 1955 to 1975.The nation as a whole began to uproar over the war and the major consequences of the war. His speech grows deeply sarcastic at times. He is using vivid language to describe the casualties; however, they are also supported by evidence, as he is using precise numbers in this part of the speech. This paper was written and submitted to our database by a student to assist your with your own studies. When he argues that the war's immoral nature should be "incandescently clear," he implies to his audience that those who do not voice their opinion against the war are not concerned for, "the integrity and life of America.". requirements? Throughout the first paragraph of Kings speech, he used emotional diction with words such as struggle, poverty, and poor to prove that the war in Vietnam was bringing down the Americans and their families fighting overseas. If you use an assignment from StudyCorgi website, it should be referenced accordingly. The author is using pathos as one of his central rhetorical strategies. King was really able to speak to his audience by using evidence, reasoning, and a persuasive writing style throughout his speech. 838 Words He also makes an emotional plea by vividly describing the conditions in Vietnam. Many people believed that America had no reason to interfere, Dr. King being one of those people. Through utilising figurative language to juxtapose optimistic progress and demonic destruction, King is able to emphasise how devastating the Vietnam War is. King's criticism of the war as "broken and eviscerated," allows him to establish a disappointed tone that conveys the idea that the war is immoral and by doing so his precise word choice lets him to attack it as such. King demonstates this by saying, In deep disappointment, I have wept over the laxity of the church. On April 4, 1967 Martin Luther King Jr. wrote a speech named, Beyond Vietnam- A Time to Break Silence addressing the Vietnam War. Here, Martin Luther King Jr is getting the audience emotionally and completely invested by showing the effect of America in Vietnam on their lives. His audience at Riverside Church, likely familiar with his Civil Rights work, would most likely than view him with more credibility because they too could sympathize to an injustice done by the American government. In this way, he appeals to the emotions of the audience and challenges the logic behind an unnecessary war. He also focuses on the maltreatment of humanity, and how the Vietnam War is a start to the violence that occurs in America. Favorite Quote:"Faith is taking another step without seeing the entire staircase.". He does not want the church leaders to simply listen to his message. It permits Dr. King to enlighten people of what was going in that time period. The author here is using statistics to present the horrifying picture of the Vietnam War. Likewise, the image of men, both black and while, "in brutal solidarity burning the huts of a poor village," helps establish the war in Vietnam as a complete disaster and atrocity. submit it as your own as it will be considered plagiarism. His efforts to consolidate and harmonise the US into one country for all is reflected in many of his writings and speeches spanning his career. This use of repetitive language conveys urgency and shows that he deeply believes the churches may influence the government if they speak against the war. The image of death, as powerful as it is, becomes amplified when Martin Luther King associates the injustices of segregation with the Vietnam war. Registered address: Louki Akrita, 23 Bellapais Court, Flat/Office 46 1100, Nicosia, Cyprus Furthermore, when these stylistic elements are concluded with his use of parallelism, King effectively establishes America's involvement in the Vietnam War as unjust. King Jr makes a strong statement against war and his speech successfully evokes compassion and sympathy for the poor and the weak in both Vietnam and America. War makes the innocent lose hope and leaves behind horrific memories for generations on both sides. ' (Document, The war in Vietnam to do this day has gone down as one of the influential and controversial wars in United States history. Then came the buildup in Vietnam, and I watched this program broken and eviscerated, as if it were some idle political plaything of a society gone mad on war(8). However, he is about to arm them with many valid reasons why it is crucial for them to join the opposition. By claiming that the United States, "the greatest purveyor of violence," prefers, "massive doses of violence to solve its problems," King effectively establishes the U.S. government as the pervasive wrongdoer. The American intervention came at a time when the Vietnamese were expecting freedom and peaceful life and it came in a manner that was even devastating compared to the French occupation. King spoke for the weak that did not have the voices to speak for themselves; for example, he represented the poor. Thank you! The United States got involved in the Vietnam War because they wanted to stop the spread of communism. Then the segregation of African Americans and White Americans started. By claiming that the United States, the greatest purveyor of violence, prefers, massive doses of violence to solve its problems, King effectively establishes the U.S. government as the pervasive wrongdoer. Along with, and the almost facile connection between the war in Vietnam, First, Martin Luther King Jr. uses emotional appeals to persuade his audience that the Vietnam War is unjust because it is unfairly killing the poor and its destroying the country. He also mentions emotional situations the readers probably cant even imagine. Martin Luther King Jr. applies imagery throughout his speech in order to illustrate the horrors of the war to arouse anger at its atrocities and injustice. No one should be restricted from rights and opportunities that others are given for that long. Dr. Kings purpose is to make the church leaders he is speaking to aware that the time has come for them to speak out loudly in opposition of the war in Vietnam.