Subject:- English Language and Literature

Student Name:- Vatsal Desai

“I have a dream,” a speech delivered by Martin Luther King Jr. on August 28, 1963, calls for
widespread freedom and equality regardless of race. Speaking to a 250,000-strong audience in front of
the Lincoln Memorial, an allusion to the continued fight for equality, King’s oratory marvel continues
to inspire generations of speakers and thinkers. The speech sets a clear tone and structure that
amplifies the message of equality King aimed to deliver. While there are several intricacies within the
structure, however, the most apparent one lies in the transition between the first and second halves.

In the first half of the speech, King describes the hellish landscape the United States has become for
people of color. Through allusions to the Bible and the Gettysburg Address delivered by Abraham
Lincoln, King sets the foundation for what would be one of the greatest speeches, one that transcends
time and inspires generations. Through the extended metaphor and comparison of light versus dark
in the first half, King exemplifies the situation individuals of color are in. “Flames of withering
injustice” and the “light of hope” are effective examples. Furthermore, the metaphor in “crippled by
the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination” refers to oppression and effectively
exemplifies how discrimination chains America's progress.

One must also notice the manner in which King utilizes repetition throughout his speech. While “Let
freedom ring” and “I have a dream” are widely quoted, phrases such as “One hundred years later”
truly set the stage by employing extremely strong pathos to deliver the message of injustice and paint
the current picture before transitioning into the deliverance of a sermon to guide towards a path of
justice. Additionally, the metaphor of “insufficient funds in the bank of justice” instigates the spirit of
the audience, almost ripping a scab off a throbbing wound, displaying the true nature of injustice,
showing how injustice was delivered out of choice, not out of the lack of justice. The reference to the
“hallowed spot” to remind America clearly indicates King’s knowledge of American history that
allows him to be an effective orator.

At this juncture, King uses an extremely effective metaphor to transition to the second half of his
speech, the transition of seasons. “The sweltering summer of the Negro’s legitimate discontent will
not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality” suggests that the heat of
oppression and discontent cannot pass until the “trees”—in this case, the white population—choose to
provide justice to individuals of color, shedding their inhibitions and stereotypes. Following this
statement, there is an outburst of pathos that not only serves as a sermon to guide the actions of the
Negro community but also instigates them to pursue justice through the right means. His reference to
a “rude awakening” suggests how the nation cannot expect the Negro to merely “blow off steam” and
stop in its pursuit of justice, referencing how such is the “worn threshold” of justice that the Negro
must surpass in order to achieve true equality. The line “Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for
freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred” serves as a powerful message, as King
emphasizes the importance of not resorting to hate and crime to deliver justice.

Following this line is a passage full of a flurry of repetition and alliteration that seeks to create a sense
of urgency within the audience while serving as a cornerstone to the sermon. The alliteration within
“dignity and discipline,” “majestic heights of meeting,” and “physical force with soul force” suggests
how the fluidity within the text, in addition to powerful metaphors, is effectively used to create a
sense of urgency within the reader. Noting the use of “soul force” in opposition to physical force, King
suggests how the actions of the Negro community must be pure.

There is now an upward trend within the passage as King proclaims the difficulties of the Negro
community, how he is “mindful” of the brutality and injustice the audience faces daily and how even
now they are here in their quest for freedom. “Unspeakable horrors of police brutality” serve as the
creator of gory images that exemplify the pain and horror the Negro has to witness every single day.
The repetition of “We cannot be satisfied” further exemplifies the point, which when coupled with
the metaphor of “justice” to be like a waterfall—hard-hitting, relentless in its force yet pure in its
action—serves as a genuine reminder of King’s aptitude for nonviolent movements and speaking
caliber.

Now, as we move to the final half of the speech, King begins by saying how he understands the
American dream. While this proclamation might sound unimportant when put in the neighborhood
of “I have a dream” and “Let freedom ring,” it serves as an exemplary move to connect with the
audience and their aspirations for freedom. This, coupled with the heat metaphor for “oppression”
and the coolness of “freedom and justice,” truly brings out the literary qualities of the work. This
marks the beginning of perhaps the greatest and most quintessential passage of all time: “I have a
dream.”

Be it the “hewing out the stone mountain of despair,” “jangling discords of our nation to the beautiful
symphony of brotherhood,” or the great proclamation of “Let freedom ring,” Martin Luther King Jr.
portrays through repetition, metaphors, and alliteration the manner in which the Negro must achieve
its goal, stoking the fire within the community to achieve it, however, through peaceful and righteous
means.

This speech serves as a landmark in the oratory world, containing all the necessary elements, spoken
with eloquence rivaled by none and to an audience unbridled, marking a turning point in the
American Civil Rights Movement. Through the effective use of literary devices, placement of allusion,
and repetition of ideas, Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” serves as a powerful reminder of
the power orators hold in shaping change.