Rhetorical Analysis Martin Luther King Jr “I have a dream” Speech

In Martin Luther King’s I have a dream speech, he makes use of many rhetorical 

devises. Throughout King’s speech he uses the rhetorical devises such as pathos, repetition,  and hyperbole. King uses pathos in his speech to appeal to the audiences emotions and create a relationship with black and white children. For example “One day right here in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white girls and boys and sisters and brothers”. King appeals to the audience emotions by mentioning their children in a better situation. “To the millions of negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice” King appeals to both parents and older generations by alluding  to slavery. King uses repitition for emphasis. Repitition helps the audience comprehend his points. For example “one hundred years later” is used to represent how long the Negro people have been waiting for freedom. The repitition helps the audience track with the speech and the King’s tenets. King uses hyperbole in his speech to exaggerate the big problem in the world. “I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted and every hill and mountain shall be made low the rough places will be made plain and the crooked places will be made straight”. King exaggerates that everything will be fixed if African American Negros get their justice. Throughout King’s speech he uses a lot of “alls” and “every”s. King believes that true justice will come when every person believes in freedom for all.