How Does Martin Luther King Use Ethos Pathos Logos

Within a few decades of each other both Martin Luther King and Chief Dan George speak to the public of racial injustice towards their own ethnicity. These two distinct activists both display hope in achieving racial and ethnic equality throughout their speeches. Martin Luther Kings’ speech can be seen as forward and direct in portraying his message, utilizing the rhetorical device of logos such as disturbing facts to persuade his audience. An example of this can be seen when he restates the promises of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence, “A promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty,

This can be seen when he asks the audience, “Do you know what it is like to be in a surrounding that is strange, and all around you, you see strange things? It depresses man”. This creates a feeling of pity towards the sufferings the First Nations people must endure because of the rights they do not receive. In Martin Luther King’s speech he uses anaphora to create emphasis and dramatic effect such as “I have a dream” or “One hundred years later”. Similarly Chief Dan George uses this stylistic device to emphasize the fact that the First Nations people have already given more than enough for their rights “We paid, we paid and we paid”. This technique is used in both speeches to promote their distinct messages to the audience so they may realize the reality that the two ethnic groups face. Alliteration is another style that is evident in Martin Luther Kings’ speech when he says, “The marvellous new militancy” and “That some of you have come out of great trials of tribulations”. These few lines create emphasis on his ideas, whereas this is not present in the speech of Chief Dan George. The comparative stylistic devices such as metaphors and similes help create relatable scenarios for the audience so that they can further understand the pain or trouble that is

Similarly these devices can be seen in the speech of Chief Dan George when he compares the 20th century’s progress with food, “We did not have time to take this 20th century and eat it little by little and digest it. It was forced feeding from the start, and our stomachs turned sick”. This comparison helps the audience relate with the First Nations people and their struggle to adjust to the advancing modern world. A different technique the two speakers use to solidify their message was the use of anecdotes. Martin Luther King uses examples of when Negroes have basic rights taken away from them, “We can never be satisfied, as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities”. Likewise, Chief Dan George uses instances in which there is a lack of integration between the First Nations people and the white people, “The bell rings; it is recess time. The doors open, and the students pour out of the doors. Soon over there is a group of white students, and over there by the fence is a group of native students”. Using both of these examples and many others the speakers can impact the audience directly with daily occurrences in