Analysis of Martin Luther King's I Have a Dream Speech

In his speech “I have a dream” Martin Luther King Jr., a civil rights activist, defends that his speech will be the “greatest demonstration of freedom in the history of our nation.”(paragraph 1).   He also provides repetition to remind people and get the information into their head so they understand and feel a sense of guilt and compassion.  He additionally alludes to the Declaration of Independence and the America Constitution to show their hypocrisy.  He describes these to inform the people at the gathering and for future generations, ultimately persuading them to join in the civil rights movement to give non white people rights and freedoms.

Martin Kuther King Jr demonstrates that he is a model of morality by implying that his speech will be the “greatest demonstration of freedom in the history of our nation.”(paragraph  1) as mentioned in the introduction.  King Jr. also reminds his audience of their long standing relationship when he repeatedly says the word we.  In paragraph 5 he says “we refuse to believe” and in paragraph 8 “we must”. He again in paragraph 13 states “we can never be satisfied and finally in paragraph 26 “we will be able to”.  This shows that King believes that all these people are in this sme fight together.  That everyone has been through the same situation and will no longer accept the discrimination.  

Martin Luther King Jr. causes the audience to feel a sense of guilt but a sense of compassion by repeatedly claiming we in his sentences.  He also repeatedly says “I have a dream” (paragraph 18-26) and “one hundred years later” (paragraph 3) and this gives a feeling of hope.  King Jr.’s allusion to a black church song (paragraph 46,47) gives another idea of hope.  Martin Luther King Jr, throughout his speech has a change of tone.  In the beginning he is showing his disappointment in America and the government and this gives a sense of anger for those in the act and guilt for those against.  His tone then changes to hope in the future of America and its citizens.  This as mentioned before gives others hope and not just for the people their and then but also the people here and now.

Martin Luther King Jr. demonstrates the sensical nature of hypocrisy by offering data on how the constitution talks about everyone being free but the government and people are discriminating against the non white people.  Even when they made the constitution many people had slaves.  He also alludes to the emancipation proclamation and says that it was a hope for all slaves.  He defends though that to this day that the blacks and other non white people may be free from slavery but they are not fully free.

Martin Luther King Jr. uses many things in his speech to appeal to his audience.  He applies repetition to draw people's emotions and shows that he has been through the same situations as them.  He also alludes to important documents and historical events to prove and get his point across.