Acting almost as a climax, King lyrically urges his audience to voice their opinions and wage a war against this unjustified war in Vietnam. King was really able to speak to his audience by using evidence, reasoning, and a persuasive writing style throughout his speech. 838 Words (2022, May 4). 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. This is an obvious and extremely effective argument, especially among a group of Christian church leaders. 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." Beyond Vietnam Rhetorical Analysis Essay.docx - Thomas 1 He picks from history as well as politics and also supports his choices with philosophical wisdom. Martin Luther King Jr. was a social activist that led the Civil Rights Movement, and other movements until his assassination in 1968. 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. 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. Beyond Vietnam -- A Time to Break Silence - American Rhetoric 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. 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. down the pipe, "I watched this program broken and eviscerated" through the "buildup in Vietnam,". Beyond_Vietnam_Rhetorical_Analysis_Essay.docx.docx - Thomas 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. Moreover, Martin Luther King Jr meticulously chooses specific words that carry with them a negative connotation that helps associate the Vietnamese war with injustice. 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. 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). Kings main motive was to persuade people to see how war was destroying lives, society and economy and being silent meant being in approval of the war. Encompassed within this quote is pathos because the harsh accusation leads the reader to think poorly of the government while pitying the poor. Due to the Vietnam War is that plenty of individuals, both Americans and Vietnamese were killed. He then goes on to reveal some of his more personal feelings. Though disappointed, King still loves the church. There were many reasons why so many Americans were against the war. 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. The rhetoric helps prove how the poor lived worse in the. Through utilising figurative language to juxtapose optimistic progress and demonic destruction, King is able to emphasise how devastating the Vietnam War is. 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). Don't let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game. Rhetorical Analysis of MLK's Speech "Beyond Vietnam" Instead, King chooses to use facts to show what an illness war is. His pleas are first to the audiences sense of logic and their immediate concerns for their own country. In a solemn tone, he talks about their crops being destroyed and their water being poisoned, presumably referring to Agent Orange. 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. 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 . This convinces the reader to fully consider how the war has brought detrimental consequences, and through Kings diction, he is capable of convincing his audience to, When speaking about how the war had initially seem to have brought opportunities, he says, 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, and I knew that America would never invest the necessary funds or energies in rehabilitation of its poor. Evidently, the program for the poor was meant to be used in helping the poor, but as soon as the funds were directed to the Vietnam War, resources were no longer cast in their direction. King is effectively able to convey his point about his topic by using rhetorical devices such as logos, ethos, pathos. In "Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence," Martin Luther King, a civil rights leader, uses his voice to bring attention to the injustices of race. There were many reasons why so many Americans were against the war. In conclusion, Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Beyond Vietnam" speech was a powerful and eloquent call for peace and justice. 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. May 4, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/the-speech-beyond-vietnam-a-time-to-break-silence-by-martin-luther-king-jr-rhetorical-analysis/. Martin Luther King (MLK) was an activist and a minister who claimed that the war on Vietnam was wrong. 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. Dont King proved this partly with the quote, America would never invest the necessary funds in the rehabilitation of its poor so long as adventures like Vietnam continued (King, Beyond, 9). Kings letter is a response to those in the church who have critizied him, Yet, instead of apologizing, he stands strong for his cause and turns it around on them stating his own critisim. The image of death, as powerful as it is, becomes amplified when Martin Luther King associates the injustices of segregation with the Vietnam war. 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. All rights reserved. 1) Controversial Opinions of MLK 2) Religious figure talking about political problems 3) Malcolm X and his ideas Fitting Response EXIGENCY First Persona-Martin Luther King Second Persona-American Population and the Civil Rights Movement Third Persona- Vietnamese Population If you have a suggestion about this website or are experiencing a problem with it, or if you need to report abuse on the site, please let us know. Issues have been resolved because now the draft is less common because more people volunteer for war so the poor are not forced. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. 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. In case you can't find a relevant example, our professional writers are ready Choose skilled expert on your subject and get original paper with free plagiarism StudyCorgi. Rhetorical Analysis of MLK's Speech "Beyond Vietnam", Key Ingredients to Being a Successful Student. By showing his own emotions, King inspires compassion in the. His choice of diction and use of imagery help him deliver his point effectively in a manner that impresses both the audience's heart and mind. The Speech Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence by Martin Luther King, Jr: Rhetorical Analysis. 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. Apart from drawing a parallel between the situation in Vietnam and America, he shows neither stood to gain from it. On April 4, 1967 at Riverside Church in New York, MLK delivered "Beyond Vietnam" , which created a different perspective on the Vietnam war, in which is a negative thing. 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. For example, this quote personifies war as being an enemy. Supplemental understanding of the topic including revealing main issues described in the particular theme; 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. 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. 2022. He calls the situation some idle political plaything of a society gone mad on 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. He notes how essential it is to break silence before all hope is lost. By repeating the phrase, for the sake, he creates a rhythmic flow that causes his audience to be more receptive to his idea. 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. His use of diction and imagery arouses anger while increasing his credibility since he criticizes the unjust war he describes. To construct a clear and strong picture and show how condemnable the war exercises in Vietnam were, King compared it with an arena of gladiators which even if it amuses and engages, is something absolutely animal and barbaric. 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. 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. This quote causes the audience to realize the contradiction in the Vietnam war policy, making them less likely to accept. Then Dr. King says that the church should oppose the war simply because it is counter to the ministry of Jesus Christ. Correct writing styles (it is advised to use correct citations) Is Hydrogen Fuel Efficient Enough to Replace Fossil Fuels in the Near Future. It encompasses all humanity and not just America. Rhetorical Analysis of Martin Luther King's "Beyond Vietnam - StudyMode 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. King uses personal anecdotes, elaborate word choice, and reliable facts to persuade his audience of the injustice of the war. 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. 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. 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 By Martin Luther King "Beyond Vietnam-A Time to Break Silence" is an article written by Martin Luther King Jr himself. 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. In his essay, Dr. King uses the metaphor America has given the Negro people a bad check, which came back marked insufficient funds (46). Get original paper in 3 hours and nail the task. For example, this quote personifies war as being an enemy. StudyCorgi. 6 Effective Content Marketing Strategies You May Have Overlooked, Market Analysis Definition (With Explanation and Examples). America is overlooking its own poor and pouring resources into a war which does not offer any political, economic or social advantage. On April 4, 1967, Martin Luther King, Jr., an enormously influential civil rights activist, conveys his indignant and hopeful thoughts regarding the Vietnam War, in his speech "Beyond Vietnam," by utilizing biblical allusion, anaphora, and use of diction. Copyright 2023 service.graduateway.com. Apart from highlighting the wicked nature of the war, King Jr 's speech also sets the urgency for protest. Thank you! 804-506-0782 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 felt empowered by the sentence alone. He repeatedly stresses upon breaking the silence because in this situation being silent was a sin. 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. Thank you for sharing this page with a friend! Dr. King's purpose is . He proves that the government has been manipulating the poor when he writes, It was sending. 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. May 4, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/the-speech-beyond-vietnam-a-time-to-break-silence-by-martin-luther-king-jr-rhetorical-analysis/. 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. Favorite Quote:Life is like a box of cheese and flower petal sometimes it's soft and sweet, sometimes it just plain stinks. The war in Vietnam to do this day has gone down as one of the influential and controversial wars in United States history. 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. 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. 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. Introduction 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. He applies ethos to establish credibility, pathos to appeal to emotions, and logos to support his claims with hard evidence. (2022) 'The Speech Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence by Martin Luther King, Jr: Rhetorical Analysis'. We Will Write a Custom Case Study SpecificallyFor You For Only $13.90/page! The problems being faced by either America or Vietnam were never going to be solved through rifles but through peaceful and nonviolent action. Rhetorical Devices In Beyond Vietnam Speech | ipl.org The paper concludes that Kings dream have not come true, but, Rhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King Beyond Vietnam. 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. 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. Martin Luther King, Jr indicates that he is seen as a figure of authority by the civil rights movement. PDF Beyond Vietnam, speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, NYC, 4/4/67 Another rhetorical device is the common ground he establishes in his last sentence where he writes, "This is the story of Why We Can't Wait" (King 98-99). 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. 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. When he argues that the wars 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. Finally, Martin Luther King Jr. uses parallelism within his own reflection to evoke emotions in his audience to show that . 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 also states, I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. The war with Vietnam was just as unjust as unnecessary. 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. However, he is about to arm them with many valid reasons why it is crucial for them to join the opposition. 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. Rhetorical Analysis Of Mlk's Beyond Vietnam. He specifically mentions a poverty program that was looking promising before the United States became involved in Vietnam. There is at the outset a very obvious and almost facile connection between the war in Vietnam and the struggle I, and others, have been waging in America. If you use an assignment from StudyCorgi website, it should be referenced accordingly. They now also understand that the Vietnam War plays a bigger role in America than just the men gone to war, it affects others too, like them. 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. Acasestudy.com 2007-2019 All rights reserved. Need a custom essay sample written specially to meet your War makes the innocent lose hope and leaves behind horrific memories for generations on both sides.