King was really able to speak to his audience by using evidence, reasoning, and a persuasive writing style throughout his speech. 838 Words 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. (These links will automatically appear in your email.). Is Hydrogen Fuel Efficient Enough to Replace Fossil Fuels in the Near Future. In conclusion, Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Beyond Vietnam" speech was a powerful and eloquent call for peace and justice. Dr. King says that the war is draining valuable resources that could be helping the poor in our own country. However, he is about to arm them with many valid reasons why it is crucial for them to join the opposition. In this way, while he successfully draws a parallel between the struggles of Vietnamese people and that of the Americans, he also lays the foundation for the next stages of his argument. The rhythm and frequent repetition are used to drive home his key points, stressing the importances of his goal. To help his audience see that Vietnam is only madness, a wastage of resources and an ignorance of more pressing concerns, King once again affirms that war was never a means of peace. He shows a strong theme of determination, along with dedication, and perseverance. 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. 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. He successfully proves that The United States has done far more harm to the Vietnamese than good. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. Rhetorical devices are included in Martin Luther Kings speeches to prove conflict. However, his words while they aim to bring the pain of the Vietnamese alive before the audience also include a request that a progressive nation should stand with humanity and not lose control of its feelings. Through this speech, and his ideals of determination, many rhetorical devices are put to use to drive forth these points. "Beyond Vietnam-A Time to Break Silence" Rhetorical Analysis Introduction In this paper the speech "Beyond Vietnam" of Martin Luther king will be analyzed through the framework of Neo-Aristotelian criticism. Rhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King Beyond Vietnam 534 Words3 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. For example, this quote personifies war as being an enemy. 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). Showing his knowledge of the history of the war and using it to discredit the United States reason for being there is crucial to Dr. King in developing his position. writing your own paper, but remember to Then came the buildup in Vietnam, and I watched this program broken and eviscerated, as if it were some idle political plaything of a society gone mad on war(8). He then goes on to reveal some of his more personal feelings. Rhetorical Analysis of MLK's Speech "Beyond Vietnam" 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. 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. He picks from history as well as politics and also supports his choices with philosophical wisdom. King makes the nation appears as hypocrites because Americans pretend to fight as a united nation whereas segregation is among the same schools, the same neighborhood, the same country. 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. 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. 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." Disclaimer: Services provided by StudyCorgi are to be used for research purposes only. Rhetorical devices are included in Martin Luther Kings speeches to prove conflict. (2016, Nov 14). King also links the issue to the question of Americas integrity. Retrieved from https://studycorgi.com/the-speech-beyond-vietnam-a-time-to-break-silence-by-martin-luther-king-jr-rhetorical-analysis/, StudyCorgi. In addition, his use of parallelism allows him to appeal to his audiences pity for the oppressed in order for him to express his call to action, a call for activism that goes beyond Vietnam. "The Fine Art of Baloney Detection" Essay by Carl Sagan. King is effectively able to convey his point about his topic by using rhetorical devices such as logos, ethos, pathos. Likewise, the image of men, both black and while, "in brutal solidarity burning the huts of a poor village," helps establish the war in Vietnam as a complete disaster and atrocity. 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. In the article "Beyond Vietnam", Martin Luther argues that war in Vietnam has far reaching affects that not only rapaciously take away America's resources, but make an immediate impact on African Americans perspective on the civil rights movement. Acasestudy.com 2007-2019 All rights reserved. The rhetoric helps prove how the poor lived worse in the. Luther starts off by explaining that Vietnam heavily takes away valuable money of the US. "The Speech Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence by Martin Luther King, Jr: Rhetorical Analysis." 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.". During the final years of . He evaluates the psychological as well as social, political and economic implications of America's participation in Vietnam war. The paper also analyzes Martin Luther Kings speech I have a dream with the purpose of rhetorical devices and how well they have been used in the speech, and how Afro-Americans conditions have been at the time. King uses personal anecdotes, elaborate word choice, and reliable facts to persuade his audience of the injustice of the war. Some would be uninterested and some not knowing what to do. 663 Words; It also uses a bit of strong imagery. It is clear that he wants the audience of church leaders to go back to their churches and fearlessly speak out in opposition of the war. 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. It allows them to imagine what might happen if America were to keep fighting in the war. "The Speech Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence by Martin Luther King, Jr: Rhetorical Analysis." The most famous speeches in the United States history all have utilized rhetoric devices and strategies. Choose skilled expert on your subject and get original paper with free plagiarism 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. For these practical and logical reasons, the church should join the opposition. 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. Registered address: Louki Akrita, 23 Bellapais Court, Flat/Office 46 1100, Nicosia, Cyprus Overall, Martin Luther King Jr. eloquently argues against the United States involvement in Vietnam through his use of parallelism, diction, and imagery. 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. Finally, Martin Luther King Jr. uses parallelism within his own reflection to evoke emotions in his audience to show that . 1. This special lyrical and parallel structure helped get his main points across and allows a large audience to understand simple but powerful words (Layfield) . Furthermore the Kings parallel structure clarifies and highlights his intent by building up to a more important point. Using the approach, the context of the speech will be analyzed according to the classical cannon of rhetorical. He is disappointed in te church and his disappointment is worse because he feels so strongly for the church, as is evident through his tears. However, a very powerful speech, in manys opinion, is the Ive Been to the Mountaintop speech, given shortly before Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. Furthermore, when these stylistic elements are concluded with his use of parallelism, King effectively establishes Americas involvement in the Vietnam War as unjust. He notes how essential it is to break silence before all hope is lost. To achieve this, he used rhetorical strategies such as appeal to pathos and repetition. He states, Many people have questioned me about the wisdom of my path. As a leader of his people, King took the stand to take radical measures to overcome the false promises of the sovereign government that had been addressing the issues of racial segregation through unimplemented transparent laws that did nothing to change the grim realities of the society. Issues have been resolved because now the draft is less common because more people volunteer for war so the poor are not forced. During this time period there was a lot of controversy surrounding the war. 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. Martin Luther King, Jr in his speech Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence argued that US foreign policy was hypocritical when compared to the inequality present in the United States. For example, King says, We have waited for more than 340 years for our constitutional and God given rights (2). Rhetorical Analysis of MLK's Speech "Beyond Vietnam" December 22, 2016 By Richcoca PLATINUM, Canoga Park, California More by this author Widely known for his work in the Civil Rights Movement,. Dr. King's purpose is to make the church leaders he is speaking to aware that 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. 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. 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). Many people believed that America had no reason to interfere, Dr. King being one of those people. King uses emotional words and descriptions to capture the audiences attention and convey the injustices caused by the Vietnam War. 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. You may use it as a guide or sample for Likewise, the image of men, both black and while, "in brutal solidarity burning the huts of a poor village," helps establish the war in Vietnam as a complete disaster and atrocity. These emotionally charged images would seemingly convince anyone that the cause for this war could not possibly be just. 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. In his second paragraph, he connects with his audience by saying we have been repeatedly faced, For instance, in the second paragraph of his speech, he says, I could not be silent in the face of such cruel manipulation of the poor. The words silent, cruel, and manipulation speak out to an audience, especially for one that has faced hardship themselves in times of need. Registration number: 419361 Rhetorical Analysis In King's Beyond Vietnam. More importantly, King states that, the poor has been manipulated into believing a type of reality that simply isnt accurate or fair on their part. 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. Encompassed within this quote is pathos because the harsh accusation leads the reader to think poorly of the government while pitying the poor. King draws sympathy for his cause from the reader who sees the unjustness of the situation he and his followers are dealing with. 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. 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. Would you like to get a custom case study? 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. There were many reasons why so many Americans were against the war. 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. 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. Then the segregation of African Americans and White Americans started. In this way, he appeals to the emotions of the audience and challenges the logic behind an unnecessary war. (2022, May 4). If he had not shown knowledge of the background of the war, it would be easy to dismiss his other pleas as lofty religious ideals. In other words, the resources were used for the soldiers, yet the poor still needed them just as so. He spoke at Riverside Church in New York City, a venue that had a history of hosting progressive speakers and thinkers. Dr. King further discredits the United States intentions in Vietnam by comparing us to Germany in World War II saying, What do they think as we test out our latest weapons on them, just as the Germans tested out new medicine and new tortures in the concentration camps of Europe? This quote causes the audience to realize the contradiction in the Vietnam war policy, making them less likely to accept. He also affirms that people have better options and that the idea of war, despite that it sounds patriotic is basically inhuman. 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. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcom X, and Stokely Carmichael all had quite famous speeches that took a stance on racial inequality. A few lines after, King writes about the injustice the African-American community has faced, by stating, 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. To further show to the audience how his community has been suffering from the war, he uses a comparison statement between the facts to illustrate how freedom has been hard to attain. 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. 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. Favorite Quote:"Faith is taking another step without seeing the entire staircase.". 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. This is a logical fact with which no one can argue. 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). 663 Words; Thank you! 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. By continuing well Copyright 2023 service.graduateway.com. Acting almost as a climax, King lyrically urges his audience to voice their opinions and wage a war against this unjustified war 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 doesnt address their oppressor, the U.S. government. 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. All of Dr. Kings arguments are very effective. Manacles of discrimination, Lonely island of poverty and Chains of discrimination paint a bleak picture of life as a minority in America, and contrasts phrases such as Bright day of justice and Sacred obligation which symbolize freedom. This paper examines the conditions of the Afro-Americans lives from 1960-today with focus on education, work, income, police brutality and criminality. 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). Dr. Kings purpose is to make the church leaders he is speaking to aware that the time has come for them to speak out loudly in opposition of the war in Vietnam. Lastly, Martin Luther King uses logos in his famous speech. Then Dr. King says that the church should oppose the war simply because it is counter to the ministry of Jesus Christ. [emailprotected] describing the ways in which the war is detrimental to the American people, King writes that "Vietnam. In a solemn tone, he talks about their crops being destroyed and their water being poisoned, presumably referring to Agent Orange. Ironic elements are evident in abundance throughout Kings speech which elicit an comical tone and draws on the reality of the war. 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. His pleas are first to the audiences sense of logic and their immediate concerns for their own country. 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. On April 4, 1967 Martin Luther King Jr. wrote a speech named, Beyond Vietnam- A Time to Break Silence addressing the Vietnam War. On April 4, 1967, King addressed a crowd of 3,000 in Riverside Church by delivering a speech titled, "Beyond Vietnam," in the midst of the cruelty of the Vietnam War. 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. By showing his own emotions, King inspires compassion in the. King is well aware that an audience that experiences strong emotional response to this speech is more likely to be convinced of his. The paper concludes that Kings dream have not come true, but, Rhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King Beyond Vietnam. Luther was a charismatic leader who took a firm stand against the oppressive and racist regime of the United States (US), devoting much of his life towards uniting the segregated African-American community of the US. 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. 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. 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. Dr. King includes a brief, but poignant history of the war in Vietnam which is important because he needs to prove that he knows and understands the politics of the situation. Finally, Martin Luther King Jr. uses parallelism within his own reflection to evoke emotions in his audience to show that . 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." Dr. King's purpose is . The author here is using statistics to present the horrifying picture of the Vietnam War. Which of your works would you like to tell your friends about? 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). 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. The image of death, as powerful as it is, becomes amplified when Martin Luther King associates the injustices of segregation with the Vietnam war. King is effectively able to convey his point about his topic by using rhetorical devices such as logos, ethos, pathos. 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. 350 5th Ave, New York, NY 10118, USA. Overall, the effective use of various rhetorical strategies is what makes the speech so valuable. Moreover, it is the poor and the helpless mainly who are falling prey to this war game. The persuasive techniques utilized by King Jr are aimed at making people think over the outcomes of Vietnam war and if it was not against Americas integrity. King spoke for the weak that did not have the voices to speak for themselves; for example, he represented the poor. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. Furthermore, when these stylistic elements are concluded with his use of parallelism, King effectively establishes America's involvement in the Vietnam War as unjust. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair. (King). Favorite Quote:Make as many as mistakes as you want, just don't make the same mistake. In multiple paragraphs of his speech, King effectively appeals to emotion by using personal anecdotes that involve him speaking to people of poverty directly. We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. Favorite Quote:What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger. Moreover, Martin Luther King Jr meticulously chooses specific words that carry with them a negative connotation that helps associate the Vietnamese war with injustice. https://studycorgi.com/the-speech-beyond-vietnam-a-time-to-break-silence-by-martin-luther-king-jr-rhetorical-analysis/. This essay was written by a fellow student. Through utilising figurative language to juxtapose optimistic progress and demonic destruction, King is able to emphasise how devastating the Vietnam War is. 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. In addition, his use of parallelism allows him to appeal to his audience's pity for the oppressed in order for him to express his call to action, a call for activism that goes beyond Vietnam. Please note that while we value your input, we cannot respond to every message. Just like the people of America, the Vietnamese also have a right to live free on the lands of their fathers. His main purpose was to try to persuade the audience to . For example, in paragraph 7, King discusses the harsh reality of 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. The Speech Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence by Martin Luther King, Jr: Rhetorical Analysis. He includes various perspectives and addresses several counterarguments with the intention to prove the futility of war as a tool to address social, economic and political problems. He also says the war is further crippling the poor in the United States by sending a disproportional number of them to the front lines to die. No one should be restricted from rights and opportunities that others are given for that long. 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.