Speech Analysis- Martin Luther King Jr.: I Have a Dream
‘’I Have a Dream’’ is a speech that was conveyed by Martin King Luther Jr., on 28th of August in the year 1963. The speech was conveyed in front of the memorial of Lincoln in Washington D.C (Adelman, 6). The iconic speech was in the context of how the essentiality of racial equality for individuals in the society for the co-existence of peace. In addition, the speech addressed the negative impacts of racism on the African American individuals. The march had been attended by over 250, 000 demonstrators and civil rights activists and it is described as the largest demonstration that has been viewed in the capital and associated with the highest media coverage (Adelman, 7). During the speech, Martin Luther particularly stressed the requirement for the existing generating to avoid and get rid of racism in order to develop a good society for the following generation. He did this through highlighting and demonstrating some strategies that needed to be adopted so that racial equality would be achieved in the society.
King’s speech can be criticized based on several grounds which include the structure, content, skills of delivery, the utilized techniques as well as the physical gestures of the speaker. Martin’s speech was not connected to traditional speech values but it utilized a structure in which the audiences would be able to follow. The introduction of the speech was effective as it was fully able to set grounds on why the audiences should listen to the speech. He demonstrated his happiness having joined the audiences in the demonstration for freedom and the opening was effective in establishing the general intent of the presentation in general. The choice of the speech title was effective as it was the demonstration of the dream held by the audience of attaining a society that is characterized by racial equity (Durgut, 5). The effectiveness of the speech was attained by the utilization of a simple structure and language by King. His content was appropriately selected and organized to ensure that the main objective of the speech was achieved (Durgut, 5).
By the look of the attention paid but the audiences it is clear that the message was delivered by the speaker in a clear nature (Ilya, 1:33). The message delivered by the speaker affected his audiences which can be viewed through the shouting and applauds as if they were in agreement to the speaker's intentions. Through his message about discrimination as well as racial inequality he was able to cultivate the audiences fully. During the first section of his speech, he addressed mainly the historical facts of racial inequality and discrimination in the United States. This helped in drawing more attention to the audiences thus increasing their interest in what the speaker had to say. This, therefore, makes the introduction of the speech to be effective. Next, he got into delivering prophecies of the things that he believed would occur in the American society. this strategy appealed the general feelings of the audience thus making it a focus topic as the topic that was being addressed was a serious one and among those topics that were not normally discussed in the open grounds. The speaker utilized adequate delivery skills because he understood clearly when and how to deliver each argument. The speaker clearly understood that the topic that he was addressing was very critical and sensitive (Adelman, 6). Therefore he utilized a well-structured and a very careful speech that only addressed the needs of his audiences without offending their concerns.
King’s speech was completely focused and he provided adequate examples to every argument that he raised which was done in an organized and logic manner. King’s message was that all men are created as equals and despite that this was not the particular case in America at that period he felt that this should be the future’s case (Durgut, 7). He generated his arguments in an authoritative and passionate way. From the way that the message of the speaker was conveyed it is true to say that the speaker had done thorough research. In his speech he utilized details from independence declaration, bible quotations as well as the address of Gettysburg. In the context of style the speech can be described as a political thesis, poetry art, improvise sermon, and a mastery art that is accompanied by biblical language as well as imagery (Durgut, 8). King’s speech was extemporaneous which was prepared thoroughly which made it sound spontaneous.
King’s utilization of language would have developed a lasting effect on the particular audiences that he addressed during the march. The speech attained success based on his choice of speech and the manner in which he had a well develop a strategy of addressing his topic which correctly matched the concerns of the audiences. The African Americans and the civil activists were his target audiences and this propelled the effectiveness of his message. King utilized vivid and evocative language in developing powerful and memorable visuals to the audiences (Ilya, 2:30). Through the use of examples of the existing discrimination against the Africa Americans, he created a vivid visual on the existing situation. Throughout his speech, he was able to contrast the current situation with what might become. The speaker can be described as very authoritative and moving with his message through the utilization of ideas
In a delicate and informative form, he began to mention some historic and literary source such as happiness pursuit, freedom as well as life. This was an independence declaration reference which can be considered as appropriate while considering the topic that the speaker was addressing. Martin’s speech evolved from the utilization of logos to pathos as he approached the end of the speech. At this point when he was approaching the conclusion of the speech he began to appeal the sensations of his audiences. he incorporated his individual philosophy that he held that dream that one day he shall live in the united states as a nation that he will not be judged by his skin color but their intelligence (Ilya, 1:30).
The efficiency of the speaker’s speech was enhanced by his capability of using anaphora strategy. In this, he utilized the approach of repeating words such as freedom and discrimination at the start of the surrounding clauses. The technique was effective because it developed a pattern that developed the impact of the rhetorical style of the whole speech (Durgut, 4). This strategy was effective in Martin’s speech because it permitted the speech to be membered timelessly. Through this, he wanted to create a picture in the minds of the audiences to ensure that his objective of conveying the state of racial discrimination was achieved. The most frequent phrase that the speaker generally repeated throughout his speech is that he held a dream. This was effective in reminding the audiences of the objective of the speech and therefore developing the audience’s role in this message (Durgut, 4).
This clause reminds individuals of Luther as a great philosopher who wished that the society would be changed and gain racial equality for all. Martin’s physical gestures play a critical role in the effectiveness of the speech. His body language helped in boosting the weight held by his message. The use of gestures as well as body language helps in developing or diminishing the authority of the speech. This is one ground that can be utilized in criticizing a speech. When the speech is nervous the effectiveness of the speech is lowered because it causes the voice to be unclear due to breakage (Adelman, 6). Martin as a preacher was highly exposed to addressing audiences and he did this with much confidence. The crowd was huge but this did not shake his ability to state what he wanted to convey to the audiences. Martin was composed and stuck as he made his speech he did not demonstrate any sign of fear or confusion and his speech was correctly organized. This, therefore, shows that he was not nervous but he was reserved in certain degree when he was beginning his speech. This is so because he appeared cautious in addressing the audiences because the topic that he was addressing was a critical one at that particular period and therefore he began in a cautious way. As he got deeper into the speech he began to gain confidence and become more comfortable. At this particular period when he was well composed, he even ditched his speech script. Apparently, he got into the speech and he was able to a speech from his head without references. This, therefore, shows that it was something that he knew very well about as he had done thorough research and identified the needs of the audiences and how to address them (Adelman, 6).
The conclusion of the speech was effective as it left his audiences with something to think about. In this conclusion, he started that racial discrimination can be considered as a social issue that should be resolved by those that are present for those to come (Durgut, 4). Similar to the opening, the utilization of words, the use of body language as well as visuals in the concluding section of the speech was effective. The conclusion was concise, memorable and it incorporated an action call. The audiences responded adequately demonstrating to the speaker that they needed to see actions (Durgut, 6).
In summary, Martin’s speech utilized words that were phenomenal with appropriate delivery. The general speech was strong from the introduction to the resting section. The general speech by Martin Luther can be considered as exceptional one based on its values and aspects. The speech was well structured, appropriately done and adequately evidenced. The delivery was good which made his audiences approachable and very responsive. The speaker was well grounded and very confident in delivering his message which makes the speech and his speaking skills a success.
Work Cited
Adelman, B., & Southern Christian Leadership Conference,. (2013). "I have a dream": A 50th year testament to the march that changed America.
Durgut, Ismail. "i Have a Dream": An Example of Classical Rhetoric in a Post-Modern Speech. München: GRIN Verlag GmbH, 2008. Internet resource.
Ilya, Gokadze. (2013). Martin Luther King, Jr. I Have A Dream Speech. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vDWWy4CMhE