He mentions that the war has led to the increase of violence in . 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. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. (King). 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. Need a custom essay sample written specially to meet your During the final years of . 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.". Rhetorical Analysis Of Beyond Vietnam: A Time To Break Silence, During the 20th century, the Vietnam War had a profound impact on Americans, but there was a side of the story that was less known- voices from the poor. King uses emotional words and descriptions to capture the audiences attention and convey the injustices caused by the Vietnam War. https://studycorgi.com/the-speech-beyond-vietnam-a-time-to-break-silence-by-martin-luther-king-jr-rhetorical-analysis/. StudyCorgi. Don't let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game. Rhetorical Mlk Speech "Beyond Vietnam". He attempts to call upon sympathy within the audience by using highly expressive language. War is expensive. 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. 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. Martin Luther King Jr says in his first paragraph that,"It seemed as if there was a real promise fr hope to draw men and skills and money like some demonic destruction suction tube." Dr. King says that the war is draining valuable resources that could be helping the poor in our own country. 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. In conclusion, Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Beyond Vietnam" speech was a powerful and eloquent call for peace and justice. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair. (King). 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. We Will Write a Custom Case Study SpecificallyFor You For Only $13.90/page! Retrieved from https://graduateway.com/rhetorical-analysis-of-martin-luther-kings-beyond-vietnam-a-time-to-break-silence/, Rhetorical of Analysis of Martin Luther Kings, I Have a Dream Speech, Break, Break, Break by Alfred Lord Tennyson Analysis, Martin Luther King Jr.: A Civil Rights Activist Who Changed, Rhetorical Analysis Martin Luther King Jr. versus Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr. Acting almost as a climax, King lyrically urges his audience to voice their opinions and wage a war against this unjustified war in Vietnam. Martin Luther King Jr. was a social activist that led the Civil Rights Movement, and other movements until his assassination in 1968. He says, And we must rejoice as well, for surely this is the first time in our nation's history that a significant number of its religious leaders have chosen to move beyond the prophesying of smooth patriotism to the high grounds of a firm dissent based upon the mandates of conscience and the reading of history. This paper was written and submitted to our database by a student to assist your with your own studies. Favorite Quote:Failures help one grow as a person. Likewise, during this time period, America [put little effort into] rehabilitation of its poor creating an even harder life for them (Source A). King is effectively able to convey his point about his topic by using rhetorical devices such as logos, ethos, pathos. 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. 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. 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. We try to make TeenInk.com the best site it can be, and we take your feedback very seriously. 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. Welcome to the world of case studies that can bring you high grades! Ironic elements are evident in abundance throughout Kings speech which elicit an comical tone and draws on the reality of the war. The fact that young black men are being sent [across the world] to fight for the liberties in Southeast Asia, which they [have] not found in Georgia and East Harlem questions the validity of Americas founding principles of the unalienable rights of every individual; life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. 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. This demonstrates to the audience that he realizes it is going to be difficult for them to speak out in opposition of the government. Rhetorical Analysis In King's Beyond Vietnam. In his essay, Dr. King uses the metaphor America has given the Negro people a bad check, which came back marked insufficient funds (46). 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 views on America's involvement in the Vietnam War. 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. In his argument, King mounts a multi-pronged attack on America's participation in the Vietnam war and also gains people's sympathy for the Vietnamese. Overall, Martin Luther King Jr. eloquently argues against the United States involvement in Vietnam through his use of parallelism, diction, and imagery. 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. If it is, let us trace its movements and pray that our own inner being may be sensitive to its guidance, for we are deeply in need of a new way beyond the darkness that seems so close around us. cite it correctly. Please note that while we value your input, we cannot respond to every message. King spoke for the weak that did not have the voices to speak for themselves; for example, he represented the poor. The rhythm and frequent repetition are used to drive home his key points, stressing the importances of his goal. He also mentions emotional situations the readers probably cant even imagine. If you use an assignment from StudyCorgi website, it should be referenced accordingly. 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. Public opinion steadily turned against the war following 1967 and by 1970 only a third of Americans believed that the U.S. had not made a mistake by sending troops to fight in Vietnam (Wikipedia). Ethos, the appeal to the legitimacy and authority of the speaker, is used throughout the speech. King uses this metaphor to emphasize the treatment of African Americans in America. Finally, Martin Luther King Jr. uses parallelism within his own reflection to evoke emotions in his audience to show that . 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. Moreover, Martin Luther King states that after the French were defeated, it looked as if independence and land reform would come again through the Geneva Agreement (King). Correct writing styles (it is advised to use correct citations) In this way, he tries to stress that even if we have progressed, we have grown nowhere better than the ancient barbarians that killed for fun. At the heart of their concerns, this query has often loomed large and loud: Why are you speaking about the war, Dr. King? Why are you joining the voices of dissent?(King). His use of diction and imagery arouses anger while increasing his credibility since he criticizes the unjust war he describes. Finally, as the speech comes to a close, King writes, If Americas soul becomes totally poisoned, part of the autopsy must read: Vietnam. King goes so far as to suggest that the war will bring America to its death if it continues overlooking the problems Americans are facing at home. (2022) 'The Speech Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence by Martin Luther King, Jr: Rhetorical Analysis'. It also reminds people of inequality through images of everyday life in the United States. Through utilising figurative language to juxtapose optimistic progress and demonic destruction, King is able to emphasise how devastating the Vietnam War is. He evaluates the psychological as well as social, political and economic implications of America's participation in Vietnam war. Favorite Quote:"Faith is taking another step without seeing the entire staircase.". 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. A comment like this doesnt leave the reader unmoved. 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. 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. 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. By repeating the phrase, "for the sake," he creates a rhythmic flow that causes his audience to be more receptive to his idea. Dr. King's purpose is . 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. (These links will automatically appear in your email.). 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. In the speech, Martin Luther King specifically indicates that America needs to end the war with Vietnam. The United States got involved in the Vietnam War because they wanted to stop the spread of communism. requirements? Thank you for sharing this page with a friend! He talks about the innocent people killed in the crossfire, mostly children. All of the valid arguments and vivid imagery Dr. King uses combine to make this a very effective, passionate and memorable speech. Rhetorical Analysis Of Beyond Vietnam A Time To Break Silence In the speech "Beyond Vietnam- A Time to Break Silence," by Martin Luther King Jr. he expresses his opinion on how the Vietnam war is unjust. Many people believed that America had no reason to interfere, Dr. King being one of those people. Additionally, when King claims that all this horror is in the name of America, he appeals to his audiences 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 specifically mentions a poverty program that was looking promising before the United States became involved in Vietnam. 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. He then goes on to reveal some of his more personal feelings. His use of diction and imagery arouses anger while increasing his credibility since he criticizes the unjust war he describes. 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.". With an urgent tone, he repeats the phrase, we must speak (4), several times. Recognizing that citizens in poverty were not able to support their families while away from home at war, Martin Luther King included that war [and being enlisted in battle was] an enemy of poor to demonstrate how even though any man could be drafted, the economically stable left behind support for their family while the impoverished were ineligible of doing so (Source A). Perhaps the most convincing part of the speech is the emotional appeal. King demonstates this by saying, In deep disappointment, I have wept over the laxity of the church. Furthermore the Kings parallel structure clarifies and highlights his intent by building up to a more important point. StudyCorgi. On April 4, 1967, Martin Luther King delivered his first major public statement against the Vietnam War, entitled "Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break the Silence." Addressing a crowd of 3,000 at Riverside Church in New York City, King condemned the war as anti-democratic, impractical, and unjust. It encompasses all humanity and not just America. Dr. King genuinely believes that the war is in direct opposition to the teachings of Christ and therefore the church must speak out in a united voice against it. 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. 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. It also describes the Jim Crow laws and the busboy cot from 1955. 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/. He efficiently uses the anecdote to tell how he has spoken with young men, telling them how violence will not solve their problems. Rhetorical Analysis Of Beyond Vietnam A Time To Break Silence analytical essay Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech "Beyond Vietnam- A Time to Break Silence", he used a variety of techniques to reinforce the argument and persuasiveness of the American involvement in the Vietnam War. Overall, Martin Luther King Jr. eloquently argues against the United States involvement in Vietnam through his use of parallelism, diction, and imagery. One of Kings main techniques he uses to persuade the audience of his point is imagery. For example, he writes vicious mobs lynch your mothers and fathers at will, drown your sisters and brothers and hated filled policemen even kill your brothers and sisters (3). Some would be uninterested and some not knowing what to do. He picks from history as well as politics and also supports his choices with philosophical wisdom. Martin Luther King Jr proves to all throughout his speech "Beyond Vietnam --- A Time to Break Silence" that the Vietnam war was unjust by his use of emotional diction, the allusion of Jim crow, and repetition. It allows them to imagine what might happen if America were to keep fighting in the war. His pleas are first to the audiences sense of logic and their immediate concerns for their own country. [emailprotected] 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. He does not want the church leaders to simply listen to his message. On August 28th, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr gave us one of one of the most rhetorically moving speeches ever given. Kings 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. As he notes towards the end of his speech, "If we will make the right choice, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our world into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood ". Apart from the use of ethos, pathos and logos in his speech, he builds a rock solid argument by involving religious figures and facts from history and philosophy. Comparing the Justice System during the 1960s to a corrupt bank allows the audience to connect to what Dr. King is saying. Dr. King plainly states his purpose near the beginning of his speech. He also affirms that people have better options and that the idea of war, despite that it sounds patriotic is basically inhuman. The author here is using statistics to present the horrifying picture of the Vietnam War. King is effectively able to convey his point about his topic by using rhetorical devices such as logos, ethos, pathos. So, what America is doing to other nations like Vietnam also matters.