Martin Luther King Junior marks August 28, 1963 as a historic milestone of equality for black Americans, ironically in the Lincoln Memorial. Not only did King proclaim equality, but the format in which his speech was written influenced writers for decades. King claims that this speech is "the greatest demonstration of freedom", but analysis of his use of figurative language must be taken into account. All the rhetorical devices, exaggerations, allusions, metaphors, and repetitions contribute to becoming the most effective speech for many Americans. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay. King constructs the “I have a dream” speech directly for black Americans in which they lack the true freedom of life, freedom and pursuit. of happiness. King is careful to stimulate the emotions of black Americans by using constant metaphors that convey the difficulties that only black citizens face. For example, King keeps repeating that even after a hundred years, black people are still not free and that they live in an island of poverty. With this statement, the public howled, as they feel the isolation of poverty in a “free country”. Although white citizens attended the presentation of King's speech, his goal was to elicit a correlation with the truth that black people faced. Throughout the speech, King uses the rhetorical device Ethos to persuade his audience of his proposal for equality. King uses historical examples to support his propositions; therefore, he uses allusions to evoke an understanding of his metaphorical references. For example, King refers to the Declaration of Independence in which it was a promissory note for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Since King used a historical fact, his proposition of equality is well supported and his persuasion is indeed believed. King then combines a metaphor of "cashing a check" to allow the audience to see the reversal of the promise of the Declaration of Independence. The constant use of historical references, or evidence, leads the audience to trust what he has to offer. . Even though King uses his credibility to persuade the reader, his use of figurative language inspired his audience to persuade, which gave rise to the Pathos rhetorical method. King continually references allusions related to God. Every time the mention of faith appeared, the crowd went wild. King also touched on the common emotion most parents face, which is protecting their children. King says, “I dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. » This quote plays an important role in the speech by gaining the sensitivity of the audience, leading them to trust his claims. If a writer raises and lowers his or her voice to emphasize a crucial statement, the audience suddenly becomes attentive to what the writer has to say. King uses this in his speech by raising his voice, as if he is praising on a Sunday morning. King also pauses for brief seconds, as if allowing the information to sink in to the audience, waiting for a reaction. These small details affect the audience in understanding how effective King's claims are. The audience felt the melancholy tone spreading through the Lincoln Memorial, how sad our country had become and what they could do to change it. Keep.