Persuasion of Martin Luther King, Jr's “I Have a Dream” On August 10, 1963 Martin Luther King, Jr delivered a speech that becomes historically known as the “I Have a Dream” speech. Thousands of US citizens of all races gather around the Lincoln Memorial in a joint effort in the March on Washington for Jobs and freedom, just to hear King speak. Martin Luther King, Jr delivers a speech that persuades the nation into a peaceful protest, and he does it all by using Anaphora, metaphors, and symbolism to convey a powerful message. In Martin Luther King, Jr’s Speech, he uses rhetorical devices such as anaphora to emphasize his point that “Now is the time,” By repeating this phrase at the beginning of his sentences he adds to the importance and urgency of the matter, in this case a march. While delivering this speech King has to be careful in the way he persuades the audience, and the way his sentences are portrayed. The smallest miscommunication could lead the entire audience into an unbelievably large riot. Not only does king use “Now is the time.” for initiative, he uses the now famous phrase, “I have a dream.” This connects king to the audience and ensures them that they have a possibility of equality, and this is a fight …show more content…
The common theme within King’s metaphors are comparing the hardships of african americans and a future filled with equality by using light and dark. “It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long nights of their captivity.” daybreak to symbolizing the freedom to come, and the night to symbolize the long enslavement of african americans. King talks about the movement being a “great beacon of light to millions.” showing that this movement is the hope needed to breakthrough this hardship. This persuades the audience towards realizing how unequal african americans have actually been treated, and puts their situation into