The war with Vietnam was just as unjust as unnecessary. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcom X, and Stokely Carmichael all had quite famous speeches that took a stance on racial inequality. Through utilising figurative language to juxtapose optimistic progress and demonic destruction, King is able to emphasise how devastating the Vietnam War is. 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. King spoke for the weak that did not have the voices to speak for themselves; for example, he represented the poor. Additionally, Kings statement that Southeast Asia is eight thousand miles away strengthens the irony by making Southeast Asia seem like a place which is completely disconnected from America. Through this speech, and his ideals of determination, many rhetorical devices are put to use to drive forth these points. writing your own paper, but remember to These emotionally charged images would seemingly convince anyone that the cause for this war could not possibly be just. Issues have been resolved because now the draft is less common because more people volunteer for war so the poor are not forced. He also reminds the church leaders of something seemingly obvious that they may have lost sight of: the Father is deeply concerned especially for his suffering and helpless and outcast children (13). Dr. King genuinely believes that the war is in direct opposition to the teachings of Christ and therefore the church must speak out in a united voice against it. His efforts to consolidate and harmonise the US into one country for all is reflected in many of his writings and speeches spanning his career. To this day, Kings speech remains one of the most famous and influential speeches in, Martin Luther King was a determined activist for equality for all. 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. 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. He uses the word 'We', connecting with the audience and ensuring them that together they will bring change to social conditions and attitudes. Rhetorical Analysis Of Beyond Vietnam A Time To Break Silence analytical essay Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech "Beyond Vietnam- A Time to Break Silence", he used a variety of techniques to reinforce the argument and persuasiveness of the American involvement in the Vietnam War. King spoke for the weak that did not have the voices to speak for themselves; for example, he represented the poor. Because of his crowd of mix races King made sure to make his speech imploring to all no matter what the race that they may be. 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. 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. He offers many practical reasons for the opposition, as well as spiritual and moral reasons. 663 Words; 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? Rhetorical Analysis Of Mlk's Beyond Vietnam. 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. Please enter the email address that you use to login to TeenInk.com, and we'll email you instructions to reset your password. (2016, Nov 14). King makes the nation appears as hypocrites because Americans pretend to fight as a united nation whereas segregation is among the same schools, the same neighborhood, the same country. (These links will automatically appear in your email.). King argues that all people are created equal and directly challenged the outdated and abhorrent views that upheld the false flag of racial superiority among White Americans. "The Speech Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence by Martin Luther King, Jr: Rhetorical Analysis." The third section is King's call for change. 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. 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). King uses this metaphor to emphasize the treatment of African Americans in America. In the article "Beyond Vietnam", Martin Luther argues that war in Vietnam has far reaching affects that not only rapaciously take away America's resources, but make an immediate impact on African Americans perspective on the civil rights movement. His main purpose was to try to persuade the audience to . 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. King Jr knew that war creates confusion and that his audiences mind was boggled with questions. Moreover, Martin Luther King Jr meticulously chooses specific words that carry with them a negative connotation that helps associate the Vietnamese war with injustice. Martin Luther King Jr. was a social activist that led the Civil Rights Movement, and other movements until his assassination in 1968. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. 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. The Speech Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence by Martin Luther King, Jr: Rhetorical Analysis. Correct writing styles (it is advised to use correct citations) 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. He then goes on to reveal some of his more personal feelings. 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. Finally, Martin Luther King Jr. uses parallelism within his own reflection to evoke emotions in his audience to show that . If you are the original creator of this paper and no longer wish to have it published on StudyCorgi, request the removal. 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. 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). 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. 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. 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. "The Speech Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence by Martin Luther King, Jr: Rhetorical Analysis." Thank you for sharing this page with a friend! submit it as your own as it will be considered plagiarism. He efficiently uses the anecdote to tell how he has spoken with young men, telling them how violence will not solve their problems. Then Dr. King says that the church should oppose the war simply because it is counter to the ministry of Jesus Christ. 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. 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. Please note that while we value your input, we cannot respond to every message. Don't let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game. He mentions that the war has led to the increase of violence in . 804-506-0782 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. 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. 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. 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. 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(8). He also mentions emotional situations the readers probably cant even imagine. The persuasive techniques utilized by King Jr are aimed at making people think over the outcomes of Vietnam war and if it was not against Americas integrity. At 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. Furthermore, such a vivid picture will linger permanently in the audiences mind, which will make them think about the terrible outcome in the future. 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. Which of your works would you like to tell your friends about? During the final years of . 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. Logos appeals to reasoning and argumentation by applying statistics, factual evidence, and data. In a similar light, King addressed the speech I have a dream to a peaceful mass gathering in Washington asking for change. 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. May 4, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/the-speech-beyond-vietnam-a-time-to-break-silence-by-martin-luther-king-jr-rhetorical-analysis/. (2022) 'The Speech Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence by Martin Luther King, Jr: Rhetorical Analysis'. The Speech Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence by Martin Luther King, Jr: Rhetorical Analysis. We try to make TeenInk.com the best site it can be, and we take your feedback very seriously. He proves that the government has been manipulating the poor when he writes, It was sending. If you use an assignment from StudyCorgi website, it should be referenced accordingly. 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. If it is, let us trace its movements and pray that our own inner being may be sensitive to its guidance, for we are deeply in need of a new way beyond the darkness that seems so close around us. By repeating the phrase, "for the sake," he creates a rhythmic flow that causes his audience to be more receptive to his idea. 2022. By repeating the phrase, for the sake, he creates a rhythmic flow that causes his audience to be more receptive to his idea. 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. Read a rhetorical analysis of Martin Luther King Jr's Beyond Vietnam: Time to break silence. Favorite Quote:Make as many as mistakes as you want, just don't make the same mistake. Thank you for sharing this page with a friend! 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,. Favorite Quote:"Faith is taking another step without seeing the entire staircase.". Perhaps a new spirit is rising among us. To start, Dr. Kings use of metaphors allows his audience to understand his viewpoint better. 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. Rhetorical Mlk Speech "Beyond Vietnam". Due to the Vietnam War is that plenty of individuals, both Americans and Vietnamese were killed. Dr. King says that the war is draining valuable resources that could be helping the poor in our own country. 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. The image of death, as powerful as it is, becomes amplified when Martin Luther King associates the injustices of segregation with the Vietnam war. His speech emphasizes at transitioning from war to peace and from violence to a nonviolent and peaceful society. 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. Rhetorical devices are included in Martin Luther Kings speeches to prove conflict. In this way, he tries to stress that even if we have progressed, we have grown nowhere better than the ancient barbarians that killed for fun. Copyright 2023 service.graduateway.com. A comment like this doesnt leave the reader unmoved. He talks about the innocent people killed in the crossfire, mostly children. us: [emailprotected]. StudyCorgi. Nothing could be lower than being placed parallel to the senseless violence of Nazi Germany. What Is the Macro Environment in Business Analysis? But be assured that my tears have been tears of love (8). He also affirms that people have better options and that the idea of war, despite that it sounds patriotic is basically inhuman. He applies ethos to establish credibility, pathos to appeal to emotions, and logos to support his claims with hard evidence. 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 Speech Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence by Martin Luther King, Jr: Rhetorical Analysis." down the pipe, "I watched this program broken and eviscerated" through the "buildup in Vietnam,". https://studycorgi.com/the-speech-beyond-vietnam-a-time-to-break-silence-by-martin-luther-king-jr-rhetorical-analysis/. He then paints a picture of the suffering endured by Vietnam and tells how the United States has a long history of doing the wrong thing to this tiny country. Martin Luther King Jr says in his first paragraph that,"It seemed as if there was a real promise fr hope to draw men and skills and money like some demonic destruction suction tube." Right at the outset, King involves religious figures to establish the credibility for his reason and to prove that war was improper and inhuman. Need a custom essay sample written specially to meet your Overall, the effective use of various rhetorical strategies is what makes the speech so valuable. King wants his audience. 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. While his I Have a Dream speech is considered his best one, his other speeches too offer a glimpse of his powerful rhetoric and his art of persuasion. For example, this quote personifies war as being an enemy. 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. Additionally, when King claims that all this horror is in the name of America, he appeals to his audience's 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. 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. Dont 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. Likewise, during this time period, America [put little effort into] rehabilitation of its poor creating an even harder life for them (Source A). 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. Acting almost as a climax, King lyrically urges his audience to voice their opinions and wage a war against this unjustified war in Vietnam. 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. Favorite Quote:Failures help one grow as a person. Nothing evokes a more emotional response than the image of children suffering or being killed. Just talk to our smart assistant Amy and she'll connect you with the best The rhetoric helps prove how the poor lived worse in the. 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. This paper was written and submitted to our database by a student to assist your with your own studies. In multiple paragraphs of his speech, King effectively appeals to emotion by using personal anecdotes that involve him speaking to people of poverty directly. His pleas are first to the audiences sense of logic and their immediate concerns for their own country. To get his point through and make the meaning clear, King uses phrases like break the silence of the night, a vocation of agony, based upon the mandates of conscience, deeper level of awareness. 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. 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. 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. There were many reasons why so many Americans were against the war. It is why while he attacks America's intervention in Vietnam on the one hand, on the other he brings people's attention towards the other side of life where America can become a beacon of hope and peace for the entire world including 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. 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). He wants them to go back to their churches and spread the message. Rhetorical Analysis Of Beyond Vietnam A Time To Break Silence In the speech "Beyond Vietnam- A Time to Break Silence," by Martin Luther King Jr. he expresses his opinion on how the Vietnam war is unjust. Issues have been resolved because now the draft is less common because more people volunteer for war so the poor are not forced. He spoke at Riverside Church in New York City, a venue that had a history of hosting progressive speakers and thinkers. It is clear that he wants the audience of church leaders to go back to their churches and fearlessly speak out in opposition of the war. https://nolongerinvisiblemen.wordpress.com/2014/11/11/sparknotes-for-martin-luther-king-jr-s-a-time-to-break-silence/, https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkatimetobreaksilence.htm, Microsoft Corporation SWOT Analysis (2016), Zora Neale Hurstons Their Eyes were watching God: Analysis. Likewise, during this time period, America [put little effort into] rehabilitation of its poor creating an even harder life for them (Source A). Analyzes how john kerry's "beyond vietnam- a time to break silence" by martin luther king jr. uses rhetorical devices that emphasize the importance and meaning of his speech. Finally, as the speech comes to a close, King writes, If Americas soul becomes totally poisoned, part of the autopsy must read: Vietnam. King goes so far as to suggest that the war will bring America to its death if it continues overlooking the problems Americans are facing at home. Acting almost as a climax, King lyrically urges his audience to voice their opinions and wage a war against this unjustified war in Vietnam. 350 5th Ave, New York, NY 10118, USA. Lastly, Martin Luther King uses logos in his famous speech. 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. 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. 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 Silence.". Favorite Quote:Life is like a box of cheese and flower petal sometimes it's soft and sweet, sometimes it just plain stinks. Here, at ACaseStudy.com, we deliver professionally written papers, and the best grades for you from your professors are guaranteed! His use of diction and imagery arouses anger while increasing his credibility since he criticizes the unjust war he describes. Additionally, when King claims that all this horror is in the name of America, he appeals to his audience's 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. StudyCorgi. On April 4, 1967 Martin Luther King Jr. wrote a speech named, Beyond Vietnam- A Time to Break Silence addressing the Vietnam War. He expresses his anguish at seeing people of Vietnam and America suffer and also notes that if American folks do not break their silence they stand to lose much more than their opponents. 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. He changes his tone from passive to passionate. How about receiving a customized one? 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.