King successfully brings out the irony behind the war through the use of figurative speech and plenty of imagery to paint a picture of destruction and doom in Vietnam. Dr. King says that the war is draining valuable resources that could be helping the poor in our own country. May 4, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/the-speech-beyond-vietnam-a-time-to-break-silence-by-martin-luther-king-jr-rhetorical-analysis/. Favorite Quote:"Faith is taking another step without seeing the entire staircase.". King spoke for the weak that did not have the voices to speak for themselves; for example, he represented the poor. 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. 2022. However, all wanted clarity on the subject. Moreover, Martin Luther King Jr meticulously chooses specific words that carry with them a negative connotation that helps associate the Vietnamese war with injustice. Additionally, Kings statement that Southeast Asia is eight thousand miles away strengthens the irony by making Southeast Asia seem like a place which is completely disconnected from America. Analysis Of Martin Luther King's Beyond Vietnam: A Time To Break Silence Martin Luther King Jr. in his speech, "Beyond Vietnam- A Time to Break Silence, discusses the Vietnam war. King is effectively able to convey his point about his topic by using rhetorical devices such as logos, ethos, pathos. This quote is referencing how poor and rich people were drafted to war but the poor people had no one left to support the family. Through this speech, and his ideals of determination, many rhetorical devices are put to use to drive forth these points. No one should be restricted from rights and opportunities that others are given for that long. Pathos is a method applied to represent an appeal to feelings and emotions in a speech and other various kinds of writing. So far we may have killed a million of them, mostly children (King). We try to make TeenInk.com the best site it can be, and we take your feedback very seriously. Then Dr. King says that the church should oppose the war simply because it is counter to the ministry of Jesus Christ. This lecture became an explosive example of colorful language and visual examples that expanded the idea of rhetoric. We Will Write a Custom Case Study SpecificallyFor You For Only $13.90/page! In his speech, Beyond Vietnam- A Time to Break Silence Martin Luther King Jr., uses appeals to emotion, appeals to credibility, and powerful diction to strengthen his argument and persuade his audience that the Vietnam War is unjust. Please enter the email address that you use to login to TeenInk.com, and we'll email you instructions to reset your password. Furthermore, when these stylistic elements are concluded with his use of parallelism, King effectively establishes America's involvement in the Vietnam War as unjust. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcom X, and Stokely Carmichael all had quite famous speeches that took a stance on racial inequality. To this day, Kings speech remains one of the most famous and influential speeches in, Martin Luther King was a determined activist for equality for all. King uses quotes as these to suggest to convince them of the destruction of the Vietnam War, with pathos, by strongly appealing to his audience's emotion. 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. Likewise, during this time period, America [put little effort into] rehabilitation of its poor creating an even harder life for them (Source A). Which of your works would you like to tell your friends about? These two techniques played a crucial role in furthering his purpose and in provoking a powerful response from the audience that made this speech memorable and awe-inspiring. Furthermore, when these stylistic elements are concluded with his use of parallelism, King effectively establishes Americas involvement in the Vietnam War as unjust. The Speech Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence by Martin Luther King, Jr: Rhetorical Analysis. In conclusion, Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Beyond Vietnam" speech was a powerful and eloquent call for peace and justice. Correct writing styles (it is advised to use correct citations) Martin Luther King was a determined activist for equality for all. Favorite Quote:Make as many as mistakes as you want, just don't make the same mistake. ' (Document, The war in Vietnam to do this day has gone down as one of the influential and controversial wars in United States history. Dr. King's purpose is to make the church leaders he is speaking to aware that In Dr. Martin Luther King's speech "Beyond VietnamA Time to Break Silence" (1967), Dr. King asserts that the war in Vietnam is totally immoral and has far reaching negative implications not only for Vietnam, but for The United States and the rest of the World as well. "The Speech Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence by Martin Luther King, Jr: Rhetorical Analysis." This quote causes the audience to realize the contradiction in the Vietnam war policy, making them less likely to accept. 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. Registered address: Louki Akrita, 23 Bellapais Court, Flat/Office 46 1100, Nicosia, Cyprus This demonstrates to the audience that he realizes it is going to be difficult for them to speak out in opposition of the government. Thank you! His main purpose was to try to persuade the audience to . The rhetoric helps prove how the poor lived worse in the. 663 Words; Both religion and society condemn war and even popular religious figures have stood up to speak against it for the toll it takes upon human lives and for it is against the spirit of humanity and brotherhood. By expressing how much he believes in the American dream and a new dawn, it reassures people that even though there is little progress at a time, King will always fight not only for himself, but his family, friends, and all those who are not held to the same respect. 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. These statements serve to communicate to the audience that the speaker is someone of authority and should be listened to. [emailprotected] Apart from being an advocate of Mahatma Gandhi's idea of nonviolence, Martin Luther King Jr was a great leader and rhetor of all times. 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. This special lyrical and parallel structure helped get his main points across and allows a large audience to understand simple but powerful words (Layfield) . The irony is explicit in Kings words that the war is just an attempt to cover and hide the more pressing issues before America. King supports his discussion by establishing authority and appealing to his listeners emotions. 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. You may use it as a guide or sample for Nothing could be lower than being placed parallel to the senseless violence of Nazi Germany. The rhythm and frequent repetition are used to drive home his key points, stressing the importances of his goal. King uses personal anecdotes, elaborate word choice, and reliable facts to persuade his audience of the injustice of the war. The speech deemed racial segregation to be an inhumane practice that subdivides society into groups that essentially alienate them from the true sense of humanity; which is brotherhood. But be assured that my tears have been tears of love (8). Get original paper in 3 hours and nail the task. Additionally, when King claims that all this horror is in the name of America, he appeals to his audience's 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. Beyond Vietnam- A Time to Break Silence speech delivered on April 4, 1967, revolved around the growing concern with America's involvement in the Vietnam war. The rhetoric helps prove how the poor lived worse in the, King, a supporter of President Lyndon B. Johnson and his Great Society, became concerned about U.S. involvement in Vietnam. (These links will automatically appear in your email.). Through his use of imagery, diction, and parallel structure, Martin Luther King Jr associates the war in Vietnam with injustice in his famous speech, "Beyond Vietnam - A Time to Break Silence.". This comparison is very sobering. We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. May 4, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/the-speech-beyond-vietnam-a-time-to-break-silence-by-martin-luther-king-jr-rhetorical-analysis/. Though disappointed, King still loves the church. In other words, the resources were used for the soldiers, yet the poor still needed them just as so. Widely known for his work in the Civil Rights Movement, Martin Luther King Jr eventually also gained momentum in the anti-war movement against the war in Vietnam. The third section is King's call for change. Encompassed within this quote is pathos because the harsh accusation leads the reader to think poorly of the government while pitying the poor. Rhetorical Analysis, Martin Luther King Rhetorical Devices Analysis, Rhetorical Analysis of Martin Luther King Jr.S Speech, A Rhetorical Analysis Journey Through Martin Luther King Jr.s SpeechI Have a Dream. He proves that the government has been manipulating the poor when he writes, It was sending. 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. He does not want the church leaders to simply listen to his message. He also focuses on the maltreatment of humanity, and how the Vietnam War is a start to the violence that occurs in America. Rhetorical Mlk Speech "Beyond Vietnam". He then outlines the history of the war in Vietnam, showing that he is not simply preaching about religious ideals. Just like the people of America, the Vietnamese also have a right to live free on the lands of their fathers. Perhaps a new spirit is rising among us. 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.". The Braveheart speech, while famous for being powerful, is very different from another powerful speech, the one from Dead Poets Society. 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 examines the conditions of the Afro-Americans lives from 1960-today with focus on education, work, income, police brutality and criminality. 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. His pleas are first to the audiences sense of logic and their immediate concerns for their own country. He tries to make people see the other side of the picture where both black and white men were being pushed into hell without considering and questioning the outcome. In this way, he condemns and questions the Vietnam war and its relevance at a time when America had several of its own major problems to address. Rodriguez 1 Melanie Rodriguez Ms. Jimenez Composition II 20 October, 2017 A Rhetorical Analysis of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Beyond Vietnam" "Never be afraid to do what's right. In Martin Luther King Jr's passionate speech about America's involvement in Vietnam, he manages to create a strong and compelling argument that America's involvement in unjust . Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. There were many reasons why so many Americans were against the war. The author here is using statistics to present the horrifying picture of the Vietnam War. Martin Luther King Jr. applies imagery throughout his speech in order to illustrate the horrors of the war to arouse anger at its atrocities and injustice. For instance, he does when he depicts the, "Negro and white boys on TV screens as they kill and die together for a nation that has been unable to seat them together in the same schools." As a civil right mover he gave this great speech to all Americans (black and white) so that he could give off the idea of equality on the same level. Kings dialect showed the audience civil right issues, involving many rhetorical strategies using ethos, logos, and pathos, to a racially tempered crowd whom he viewed as different, but not equal. 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. 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. For example, this quote personifies war as being an enemy. Beyond Vietnam: A Rhetorical Analysis . For instance, he does when he depicts the, "Negro and white boys on TV screens as they kill and die together for a nation that has been unable to seat them together in the same schools." 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. His use of diction and imagery arouses anger while increasing his credibility since he criticizes the unjust war he describes. Acting almost as a climax, King lyrically urges his audience to voice their opinions and wage a war against this unjustified war in Vietnam. He believed that the Vietnam War diverted money and attention from domestic programs created to aid the black poor and would benefit only the banks who fund wars and the industries that supply the war. Then the segregation of African Americans and White Americans started. Martin Luther King Jr. applies imagery throughout his speech in order to illustrate the horrors of the war to arouse anger at its atrocities and injustice. He spoke at Riverside Church in New York City, a venue that had a history of hosting progressive speakers and thinkers. Martin Luther King (MLK) was an activist and a minister who claimed that the war on Vietnam was wrong. Rhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King Beyond Vietnam 534 Words | 3 Pages In 1967, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his speech "Beyond Vietnam-A Time to Break Silence." In the speech, King argues against American involvement in the Vietnam War and explains why he cannot remain silent. Therefore, to remain silent would truly be betrayal. His use of diction and imagery arouses anger while increasing his credibility since he criticizes the unjust war he describes. (2022) 'The Speech Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence by Martin Luther King, Jr: Rhetorical Analysis'. down the pipe, "I watched this program broken and eviscerated" through the "buildup in Vietnam,". He also reminds the church leaders of something seemingly obvious that they may have lost sight of: the Father is deeply concerned especially for his suffering and helpless and outcast children (13). This makes the irony explicit and that Vietnam being a smaller and weaker nation was being made to face injustice which it never deserved or desired. Additionally, by constructing an optimistic view on the civil rights situation during that time period and immediately refuting it, King is able to establish a strong sense of, Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the most influential leaders of his time and played a crucial role in the African-American Civil Rights movement. 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. 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. While his words clearly deliver his disappointment over the path American government had chosen, it also expresses a clear intention to not be with the wrong and instead listen to ones inner voice. And, to argue that King 's most radical days were never fulfilled; that his next campaign was to confront the president over the Vietnam War and economic disparity, a direct confrontation with a president over an immoral war state Hill and Wang from the book review. To get his point through and make the meaning clear, King uses phrases like break the silence of the night, a vocation of agony, based upon the mandates of conscience, deeper level of awareness. Moreover, Martin Luther King Jr meticulously chooses specific words that carry with them a negative connotation that helps associate the Vietnamese war with injustice. The line, "For the sake of those boys, for the sake of this government, for the sake of the hundreds of thousands trembling under our violence, I cannot be silent," demonstrates how King uses parallelism. https://nolongerinvisiblemen.wordpress.com/2014/11/11/sparknotes-for-martin-luther-king-jr-s-a-time-to-break-silence/, https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkatimetobreaksilence.htm, Microsoft Corporation SWOT Analysis (2016), Zora Neale Hurstons Their Eyes were watching God: Analysis. Finally, Martin Luther King Jr. uses parallelism within his own reflection to evoke emotions in his audience to show that . At last the paper discusses and assesses how to what an extent Kings dream came true with self-elected sources as backrest for the asses. In order to convince his audience that the civil rights movement in the United States should oppose the Vietnam War, the speaker appealed to their ethos, pathos, and logos. Due to the Vietnam War is that plenty of individuals, both Americans and Vietnamese were killed. For example, in paragraph 7, King discusses the harsh reality of the war. 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. Despite criticism from speaking out about things other than civil rights, King uses syntax, rhetorical strategies, and appeals to . Apart from drawing a parallel between the situation in Vietnam and America, he shows neither stood to gain from it. (These links will automatically appear in your email.). In a sense, he dives right into the idea that it is unrealistic for them to find freedom in a region halfway across the world when they couldnt even find it in America. (2022, May 4). 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. King argues that all people are created equal and directly challenged the outdated and abhorrent views that upheld the false flag of racial superiority among White Americans. Analyzes how john kerry's "beyond vietnam- a time to break silence" by martin luther king jr. uses rhetorical devices that emphasize the importance and meaning of his speech. Rhetorical devices are included in Martin Luther Kings speeches to prove conflict. At In this way, he appeals to the emotions of the audience and challenges the logic behind an unnecessary war. We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. 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. He is using vivid language to describe the casualties; however, they are also supported by evidence, as he is using precise numbers in this part of the speech. 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). May 4, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/the-speech-beyond-vietnam-a-time-to-break-silence-by-martin-luther-king-jr-rhetorical-analysis/. Choose skilled expert on your subject and get original paper with free plagiarism King was establishing his point that America was more troubled about healing and adjusting other countries, but would never invest the same in their own country. Martin Luther King Jr. was a social activist that led the Civil Rights Movement, and other movements until his assassination in 1968. 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. He calls the situation some idle political plaything of a society gone mad on war. These arguments work because they point out that even though the war is not happening on our soil, it is having a devastating effect here, especially in poor areas where people cannot afford to be hindered any more than they already are. 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. First of all, King makes his point clear by appealing to the reader's common sense, beliefs and values (logos). Later, he mentions, 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. (King). He spoke at Riverside Church in New York City, a venue that had a history of hosting progressive speakers and thinkers. Favorite Quote:Make as many as mistakes as you want, just don't make the same mistake. Since an autopsy is only done on dead creatures, King is saying that eventually, the soul of America might die. The imagery paints a dark picture in the audiences mind. 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. 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. King Jr makes a strong statement against war and his speech successfully evokes compassion and sympathy for the poor and the weak in both Vietnam and America. 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 opinion on America's involvement in the Vietnam War. His choice of words in the speech is meant to have a direct effect on the audience's psychology. 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). Overall, the effective use of various rhetorical strategies is what makes the speech so valuable. In conclusion, Martin Luther King, Jr uses ethos, pathos, and logos, among other rhetorical devices, to support his argument that American policy in Vietnam was inconsistent with its treatment of African-Americans in the United States. Ethos, the appeal to the legitimacy and authority of the speaker, is used throughout the speech. In short, this makes the audience more inclined to listen to the rest of Martin Luther king Jr's speech, as well as setting the bottom line that the Vietnam War creates devastating problems for everyone. He says, To me the relationship of this ministry to the making of peace is so obvious that I sometimes marvel at those who ask me why Im speaking against the war (12). Perhaps the most convincing part of the speech is the emotional appeal. Apart from highlighting the wicked nature of the war, King Jr 's speech also sets the urgency for protest. 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. The war according to King Jr. is nothing more than a political game played for the sake of fun and ego. We try to make TeenInk.com the best site it can be, and we take your feedback very seriously. If you use an assignment from StudyCorgi website, it should be referenced accordingly. Through his use of imagery, diction, and parallel structure, Martin Luther King Jr associates the war in Vietnam with injustice in his famous speech, "Beyond Vietnam - A Time to Break Silence.". However, the persuasiveness of his speeches does not come solely from his ability to connect with his audience's emotions but from an extraordinary ability to reason and validate his point.