Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. He means to make people ask questions of themselves and ponder over the meaninglessness and uselessness of war and what would remain behind once the war was over. Luthers speech was a passionate rhetoric that preached his views about the future. Acting almost as a climax, King lyrically urges his audience to voice their opinions and wage a war against this unjustified war in Vietnam. For example, King says, We have waited for more than 340 years for our constitutional and God given rights (2). It is not typical for churches to do so. We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. 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. The problems being faced by either America or Vietnam were never going to be solved through rifles but through peaceful and nonviolent action. This is an obvious and extremely effective argument, especially among a group of Christian church leaders. Using the approach, the context of the speech will be analyzed according to the classical cannon of rhetorical. Later in his speech, King writes again using an advanced vocabulary to reinforce his academic background with, America would never be free or saved from itself until the descendants of its slaves were loosed completely from the shackles they still wear. By using the word shackles, the reader can easily create a vivid image in their mind of how restricted the poor must feel, and whether it be physically or mentally, they can understand how much the restrained are longing for a sense of freedom. Martin Luther King notes that we have been repeatedly faced with the cruel irony of watching 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 (King). 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. 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. 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. This demonstrates to the audience that he realizes it is going to be difficult for them to speak out in opposition of the government. Furthermore, when these stylistic elements are concluded with his use of parallelism, King effectively establishes Americas involvement in the Vietnam War as unjust. Right at the outset, King involves religious figures to establish the credibility for his reason and to prove that war was improper and inhuman. His passionate tone flowed through these strategies, increasing their persuasive power on the people and encouraging them to follow/listen to his message on racial injustice. However, all wanted clarity on the subject. Favorite Quote:Failures help one grow as a person. We Will Write a Custom Case Study SpecificallyFor You For Only $13.90/page! 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. 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. 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. 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. Rhetorical Analysis Of Mlk's Beyond Vietnam. (2022, May 4). Let us not wallow in the valley of despair. (King). In this way, he appeals to the emotions of the audience and challenges the logic behind an unnecessary war. This part of the speech is evoking violent images of death that would affect the emotions of the audience. 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. Rhetorical Analysis of MLK's Speech "Beyond Vietnam", Key Ingredients to Being a Successful Student. Overall, Martin Luther King Jr. eloquently argues against the United States involvement in Vietnam through his use of parallelism, diction, and imagery. 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. Favorite Quote:Make as many as mistakes as you want, just don't make the same mistake. The irony is explicit in Kings words that the war is just an attempt to cover and hide the more pressing issues before America. The author is using pathos as one of his central rhetorical strategies. Many great speeches are increasingly different. Finally, Martin Luther King Jr. uses parallelism within his own reflection to evoke emotions in his audience to show that . 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. 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. 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). 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. The war was only going to consume lives and resources. He mentions that the war has led to the increase of violence in . He does this when he writes, "It was a step that rocked the richest, most powerful nation to its foundations" (King 96-97). 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. Rhetorical Devices In Beyond Vietnam Speech 736 Words3 Pages All they wanted was "to save the soul of America" (King, Beyond, 42). All they wanted was to save the soul of America (King, Beyond, 42). In a solemn tone, he talks about their crops being destroyed and their water being poisoned, presumably referring to Agent Orange. It permits Dr. King to enlighten people of what was going in that time period. 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. "The Speech Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence by Martin Luther King, Jr: Rhetorical Analysis." Encompassed within this quote is pathos because the harsh accusation leads the reader to think poorly of the government while pitying the poor. cite it correctly. All of Dr. Kings arguments are very effective. 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). Here, Martin Luther King Jr is getting the audience emotionally and completely invested by showing the effect of America in Vietnam on their lives. He notes how essential it is to break silence before all hope is lost. Though disappointed, King still loves the church. At Ethos, the appeal to the legitimacy and authority of the speaker, is used throughout the speech. Perhaps a new spirit is rising among us. 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. StudyCorgi. This lecture became an explosive example of colorful language and visual examples that expanded the idea of rhetoric. He evaluates the psychological as well as social, political and economic implications of America's participation in Vietnam 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 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? 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. Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. It also reminds people of inequality through images of everyday life in the United States. In his essay, Dr. King uses the metaphor America has given the Negro people a bad check, which came back marked insufficient funds (46). King, Martin Luther Jr. Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence. Church Meeting, 1967, Riverside Church, New York City. describing the ways in which the war is detrimental to the American people, King writes that "Vietnam. 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). 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. 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. This paper examines the conditions of the Afro-Americans lives from 1960-today with focus on education, work, income, police brutality and criminality. King supports his discussion by establishing authority and appealing to his listeners emotions. 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 quote causes the audience to realize the contradiction in the Vietnam war policy, making them less likely to accept. He states, Many people have questioned me about the wisdom of my path. On August 28th, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr gave us one of one of the most rhetorically moving speeches ever given. 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. His use of diction and imagery arouses anger while increasing his credibility since he criticizes the unjust war he describes. 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). * Hyperlink the URL after pasting it to your document, American Women Struggle in the 20th Century, Charlottesville Tragedy: Racial Issue in the USA, Prison Staffing and Correctional Officers Duties, Gender Issues in the Us Correctional System. 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. - M.J. 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. Welcome to the world of case studies that can bring you high grades! 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. 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. 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. 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.". Supplemental understanding of the topic including revealing main issues described in the particular theme; 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. 663 Words; Moreover, Martin Luther King Jr meticulously chooses specific words that carry with them a negative connotation that helps associate the Vietnamese war with injustice. 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. Issues have been resolved because now the draft is less common because more people volunteer for war so the poor are not forced. 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. Need a custom essay sample written specially to meet your King is effectively able to convey his point about his topic by using rhetorical devices such as logos, ethos, pathos. https://studycorgi.com/the-speech-beyond-vietnam-a-time-to-break-silence-by-martin-luther-king-jr-rhetorical-analysis/. 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. 2022. Rhetorical Analysis In King's Beyond Vietnam. The American intervention came at a time when the Vietnamese were expecting freedom and peaceful life and it came in a manner that was even devastating compared to the French occupation. StudyCorgi. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. You may use it as a guide or sample for However, his speech is not filled entirely with only emotionally charged words and phrases or just with pictures of war and destruction or poverty. Thank you! It also describes the Jim Crow laws and the busboy cot from 1955. Acasestudy.com 2007-2019 All rights reserved. The paper concludes that Kings dream have not come true, but, Rhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King Beyond Vietnam. 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. 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 . 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. 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. 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. 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. In Dr. Martin Luther Kings 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. 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. StudyCorgi. 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. Favorite Quote:Make as many as mistakes as you want, just don't make the same mistake. 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. It also uses a bit of strong imagery. 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." Acting almost as a climax, King lyrically urges his audience to voice their opinions and wage a war against this unjustified war in Vietnam. Pathos is a method applied to represent an appeal to feelings and emotions in a speech and other various kinds of writing. His first reasons are all about practicality. 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. new way beyond the darkness that seems so close around us. In Hanoi are the men who led the nation to independence against the Japanese and the French, the men who sought membership in the French Commonwealth and were betrayed by the weakness of Paris and the willfulness of the colonial armies. In front of over 3000 people at the New York Riverside Church King preaches to a room filled with clergy and laymen concerned about the 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. 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. 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. 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. Nothing evokes a more emotional response than the image of children suffering or being killed. submit it as your own as it will be considered plagiarism. This special lyrical and parallel structure helped get his main points across and allows a large audience to understand simple but powerful words (Layfield) . However, he wishes that they would have lived up to his respect, and continues to hope that they will do so in the future. Due to the Vietnam War is that plenty of individuals, both Americans and Vietnamese were killed. 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. Favorite Quote:What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger. A Time to do What is Right. writing your own paper, but remember to Furthermore his speech did not. The idea of nonviolence is much larger than ordinary people see. In the speech, Martin Luther King specifically indicates that America needs to end the war with Vietnam. Hence, Kings works always had the recurring theme of the unity and strength of combined willpower. 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.