For example, this quote personifies war as being an enemy. (2022, May 4). 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. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. It also uses a bit of strong imagery. 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? He successfully proves that The United States has done far more harm to the Vietnamese than good. 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. By repeating the phrase, "for the sake," he creates a rhythmic flow that causes his audience to be more receptive to his idea. May 4, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/the-speech-beyond-vietnam-a-time-to-break-silence-by-martin-luther-king-jr-rhetorical-analysis/. 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. 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. Don't let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game. Luther starts off by explaining that Vietnam heavily takes away valuable money of the US. 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. 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. 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. 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. Moreover, Martin Luther King Jr meticulously chooses specific words that carry with them a negative connotation that helps associate the Vietnamese war with injustice. 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. 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. Dr. King paints a vivid, heart-wrenching picture of the devastation in Vietnam. He says, To me the relationship of this ministry to the making of peace is so obvious that I sometimes marvel at those who ask me why Im speaking against the war (12). 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. 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. First of all, King makes his point clear by appealing to the reader's common sense, beliefs and values (logos). The audience felt empowered by the sentence alone. 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. 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. Rhetorical devices are included in Martin Luther Kings speeches to prove conflict. 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). 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 also affirms that people have better options and that the idea of war, despite that it sounds patriotic is basically inhuman. Lastly, Martin Luther King uses logos in his famous speech. Some would be uninterested and some not knowing what to do. 4 May. 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. Through utilising figurative language to juxtapose optimistic progress and demonic destruction, King is able to emphasise how devastating the Vietnam War is. No one should be restricted from rights and opportunities that others are given for that long. Overall, Martin Luther King Jr. eloquently argues against the United States involvement in Vietnam through his use of parallelism, diction, and imagery. 6 Effective Content Marketing Strategies You May Have Overlooked, Market Analysis Definition (With Explanation and Examples). His first reasons are all about practicality. War was an inhuman and barbaric exercise and America's participation was not in human interest. 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. An Analysis of Martin Luther King Jr's Beyond Vietnam Martin Luther King Jr. builds an argument to persuade his audience that American involvement in the Vietnam War is unjust. As example, King uses I have a dream that one day and Let freedom ring.. to open his points on how Americans should change against racial indifferences. Martin Luther King Jr. was a social activist that led the Civil Rights Movement, and other movements until his assassination in 1968. 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. Through this speech, and his ideals of determination, many rhetorical devices are put to use to drive forth these points. Dr. King's purpose is . submit it as your own as it will be considered plagiarism. (2022, May 4). Logos appeals to reasoning and argumentation by applying statistics, factual evidence, and data. However, his speech is not filled entirely with only emotionally charged words and phrases or just with pictures of war and destruction or poverty. It is why he constructs an argument that will help people decide which side to stand with and which to not. StudyCorgi. He is using historical facts to create a parallel between the current situation and the past. 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. 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. 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. 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. In a sense, he dives right into the idea that it is unrealistic for them to find freedom in a region halfway across the world when they couldnt even find it in America. Using the approach, the context of the speech will be analyzed according to the classical cannon of rhetorical. The third section is King's call for change. One of Kings main techniques he uses to persuade the audience of his point is imagery. 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. He states, Many people have questioned me about the wisdom of my path. Martin Luther King (MLK) was an activist and a minister who claimed that the war on Vietnam was wrong. 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. 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. Favorite Quote:Life is like a box of cheese and flower petal sometimes it's soft and sweet, sometimes it just plain stinks. There were many reasons why so many Americans were against the war. In the 1967 speech, Beyond Vietnam, the author, activist Martin Luther King jr, states reasons why America needs to end their involvement in the Vietnam War. 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). 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. 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 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. "The Speech Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence by Martin Luther King, Jr: Rhetorical Analysis." King draws sympathy for his cause from the reader who sees the unjustness of the situation he and his followers are dealing with. It allows them to imagine what might happen if America were to keep fighting in the war. However, he is about to arm them with many valid reasons why it is crucial for them to join the opposition. 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. 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 a solemn tone, he talks about their crops being destroyed and their water being poisoned, presumably referring to Agent Orange. writing your own paper, but remember to Despite criticism from speaking out about things other than civil rights, King uses syntax, rhetorical strategies, and appeals to . 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. The Braveheart speech, while famous for being powerful, is very different from another powerful speech, the one from Dead Poets Society. King was establishing his point that America was more troubled about healing and adjusting other countries, but would never invest the same in their own country. King is effectively able to convey his point about his topic by using rhetorical devices such as logos, ethos, pathos. 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. 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. He does this when he writes, "It was a step that rocked the richest, most powerful nation to its foundations" (King 96-97). 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. 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." Pharapreising and interpretation due to major educational standards released by a particular educational institution as well as tailored to your educational institution if different; You may use it as a guide or sample for 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). 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. 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. 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. Dr. King plainly states his purpose near the beginning of his speech. Martin Luther King Jr. applies imagery throughout his speech in order to illustrate the horrors of the war to arouse anger at its atrocities and injustice. Perhaps a new spirit is rising among us. Favorite Quote:Failures help one grow as a person. 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. The image of death, as powerful as it is, becomes amplified when Martin Luther King associates the injustices of segregation with the Vietnam war. 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. Disclaimer: Services provided by StudyCorgi are to be used for research purposes only. All of the valid arguments and vivid imagery Dr. King uses combine to make this a very effective, passionate and memorable speech. Retrieved from https://studycorgi.com/the-speech-beyond-vietnam-a-time-to-break-silence-by-martin-luther-king-jr-rhetorical-analysis/, StudyCorgi. On August 28th, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr gave us one of one of the most rhetorically moving speeches ever given. 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. 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." King successfully brings out the irony behind the war through the use of figurative speech and plenty of imagery to paint a picture of destruction and doom in Vietnam. His choice of words in the speech is meant to have a direct effect on the audience's psychology. The rhetoric helps prove how the poor lived worse in the. 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. King uses emotional words and descriptions to capture the audiences attention and convey the injustices caused by the Vietnam War. "Beyond Vietnam-A Time to Break Silence" is an article written by Martin Luther King Jr himself. 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.". 2 February 2013. 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. Many great speeches are increasingly different. 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. We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. Moreover, Martin Luther King Jr meticulously chooses specific words that carry with them a negative connotation that helps associate the Vietnamese war with injustice. Issues have been resolved because now the draft is less common because more people volunteer for war so the poor are not forced. There were many reasons why so many Americans were against the war. 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. The fact that young black men are being sent [across the world] to fight for the liberties in Southeast Asia, which they [have] not found in Georgia and East Harlem questions the validity of Americas founding principles of the unalienable rights of every individual; life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. If you are the original creator of this paper and no longer wish to have it published on StudyCorgi, request the removal. He says, And we must rejoice as well, for surely this is the first time in our nation's history that a significant number of its religious leaders have chosen to move beyond the prophesying of smooth patriotism to the high grounds of a firm dissent based upon the mandates of conscience and the reading of history. Martin Luther King, Jr indicates that he is seen as a figure of authority by the civil rights movement. 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,. Dont Furthermore his speech did not. In the speech, Martin Luther King specifically indicates that America needs to end the war with Vietnam. Likewise, during this time period, America [put little effort into] rehabilitation of its poor creating an even harder life for them (Source A). Martin Luther King Jr. applies imagery throughout his speech in order to illustrate the horrors of the war to arouse anger at its atrocities and injustice. 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). 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. We try to make TeenInk.com the best site it can be, and we take your feedback very seriously. 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. At the heart of their concerns, this query has often loomed large and loud: Why are you speaking about the war, Dr. King? Why are you joining the voices of dissent?(King). Need a custom essay sample written specially to meet your 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.