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. Martin Luther King Jr. disagreed with the way the war was being handled, and thought nonviolent demonstrations would be more efficient. Rhetorical devices are included in Martin Luther Kings speeches to prove conflict. Acting almost as a climax, King lyrically urges his audience to voice their opinions and wage a war against this unjustified war in Vietnam. First of all, King makes his point clear by appealing to the reader's common sense, beliefs and values (logos). With an urgent tone, he repeats the phrase, we must speak (4), several times. https://studycorgi.com/the-speech-beyond-vietnam-a-time-to-break-silence-by-martin-luther-king-jr-rhetorical-analysis/. Dr. King's purpose is to make the church leaders he is speaking to aware that All rights reserved. Rhetorical devices are included in Martin Luther Kings speeches to prove conflict. 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. America is overlooking its own poor and pouring resources into a war which does not offer any political, economic or social advantage. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. (King). Finally, Martin Luther King Jr. uses parallelism within his own reflection to evoke emotions in his audience to show that . StudyCorgi. In this way, he condemns and questions the Vietnam war and its relevance at a time when America had several of its own major problems to address. Martin Luther King Jr. was a social activist that led the Civil Rights Movement, and other movements until his assassination in 1968. However, all wanted clarity on the subject. 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. But be assured that my tears have been tears of love (8). 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. 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. 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 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. For example, he says that if Americas soul becomes totally poisoned, part of the autopsy must read: Vietnam. King uses this metaphor to establish the potentially dreadful consequences of America continuing to fight the war. The image of death, as powerful as it is, becomes amplified when Martin Luther King associates the injustices of segregation with the Vietnam war. requirements? 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. 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. Society's punishments are small wounds compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way." Many of us have felt the anxiety to speak up against what we know is wrong. 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. We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. For example, in paragraph 7, King discusses the harsh reality of the war. King wants his audience. Right at the outset, King involves religious figures to establish the credibility for his reason and to prove that war was improper and inhuman. Copyright 2023 service.graduateway.com. He proves that the government has been manipulating the poor when he writes, It was sending. This is an attempt to connect with the audiences emotions and prove that the war was imposed on them and even if politicians call it patriotic, society and people would never love war. 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). All of Dr. Kings arguments are very effective. 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. Luther starts off by explaining that Vietnam heavily takes away valuable money of the US. The audience felt empowered by the sentence alone. While his words clearly deliver his disappointment over the path American government had chosen, it also expresses a clear intention to not be with the wrong and instead listen to ones inner voice. King uses personal anecdotes, elaborate word choice, and reliable facts to persuade his audience of the injustice of the war. 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. 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. In order to convince his audience that the civil rights movement in the United States should oppose the Vietnam War, the speaker appealed to their ethos, pathos, and logos. He specifically mentions a poverty program that was looking promising before the United States became involved in Vietnam. 4 May. King Jr knew that war creates confusion and that his audiences mind was boggled with questions. The most famous speeches in the United States history all have utilized rhetoric devices and strategies. This part of the speech is evoking violent images of death that would affect the emotions of the audience. In a similar light, King addressed the speech I have a dream to a peaceful mass gathering in Washington asking for change. 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. 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. His use of diction and imagery arouses anger while increasing his credibility since he criticizes the unjust war he describes. Nothing could be lower than being placed parallel to the senseless violence of Nazi Germany. 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. 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. 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. new way beyond the darkness that seems so close around us. His use of diction and imagery arouses anger while increasing his credibility since he criticizes the unjust war he describes. 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. 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. He does this by appealing to certain issues the public see as important, using irony, and using diction and tone in persuasive ways. 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. He evaluates the psychological as well as social, political and economic implications of America's participation in Vietnam war. 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. 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. 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. He uses metaphorical imagery, powerful diction,and symbolism to create an impact on the audience. 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. Though disappointed, King still loves the church. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. 1) Controversial Opinions of MLK 2) Religious figure talking about political problems 3) Malcolm X and his ideas Fitting Response EXIGENCY First Persona-Martin Luther King Second Persona-American Population and the Civil Rights Movement Third Persona- Vietnamese Population 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. It encompasses all humanity and not just America. His choice of words in the speech is meant to have a direct effect on the audience's psychology. 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. 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. 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 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. He does this when he writes, "It was a step that rocked the richest, most powerful nation to its foundations" (King 96-97). King is effectively able to convey his point about his topic by using rhetorical devices such as logos, ethos, pathos. He does not want the church leaders to simply listen to his message. 804-506-0782 By continuing well assume youre on board with our, Martin Luther King Jr. vs. President Obama, https://graduateway.com/rhetorical-analysis-of-martin-luther-kings-beyond-vietnam-a-time-to-break-silence/. 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. This is a logical fact with which no one can argue. 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. down the pipe, "I watched this program broken and eviscerated" through the "buildup in Vietnam,". In this way, while he successfully draws a parallel between the struggles of Vietnamese people and that of the Americans, he also lays the foundation for the next stages of his argument. For example, this quote personifies war as being an enemy. Favorite Quote:What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger. This paper examines the conditions of the Afro-Americans lives from 1960-today with focus on education, work, income, police brutality and criminality. Here, Martin Luther King Jr is getting the audience emotionally and completely invested by showing the effect of America in Vietnam on their lives. Furthermore the Kings parallel structure clarifies and highlights his intent by building up to a more important point. 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. 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. 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. 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. Despite having a shining moment of experiments, hopes, [and] new beginnings during the struggle for human rights, King illustrates the Vietnam War as broken and eviscerate and a political plaything of a society gone mad on war. He applies ethos to establish credibility, pathos to appeal to emotions, and logos to support his claims with hard evidence. Correct writing styles (it is advised to use correct citations) describing the ways in which the war is detrimental to the American people, King writes that "Vietnam. He successfully proves that The United States has done far more harm to the Vietnamese than good. Along with calming someone, you can inspire others with your, In Kings speech, the use of sensory and visceral language is abundant, creating an emotional and powerful atmosphere. Please enter the email address that you use to login to TeenInk.com, and we'll email you instructions to reset your password. 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. Then the segregation of African Americans and White Americans started. 663 Words; Welcome to the world of case studies that can bring you high grades! Read More Use Of Nonviolence In Cesar Chavez's Speech 409 Words | 2 Pages Martin Luther King Jr. was extremely passionate about nonviolence. The rhetoric helps prove how the poor lived worse in the. Not only were they fighting for their own rights in 1976, but they were sending away the son, husbands, brothers of other Americans thousands of miles away to the country of Vietnam to fight an unjust war for the rights of the people in Southeast Asia. This quote causes the audience to realize the contradiction in the Vietnam war policy, making them less likely to accept. This special lyrical and parallel structure helped get his main points across and allows a large audience to understand simple but powerful words (Layfield) . Rhetorical Devices In Beyond Vietnam Speech 736 Words3 Pages All they wanted was "to save the soul of America" (King, Beyond, 42). A comment like this doesnt leave the reader unmoved. 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. In the speech, Martin Luther King specifically indicates that America needs to end the war with Vietnam. 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). The author here is using statistics to present the horrifying picture of the Vietnam War. Get original paper in 3 hours and nail the task. It is just a continuation of the regimes that have been trying to oppress the Vietnamese. 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. 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. The speech was given to a large, mixed audience of primarily civil rights activists. The Speech Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence by Martin Luther King, Jr: Rhetorical Analysis. 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. 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. 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. King also links the issue to the question of Americas integrity. If he had not shown knowledge of the background of the war, it would be easy to dismiss his other pleas as lofty religious ideals. 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. 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. Please note that while we value your input, we cannot respond to every message. In this way, he appeals to the emotions of the audience and challenges the logic behind an unnecessary war. 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.". 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. 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. 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. Dr. King says that the war is draining valuable resources that could be helping the poor in our own country. His speech grows deeply sarcastic at times. So far we may have killed a million of them, mostly children (King). Since the founding of the Americas in the late 1400s, slavery was a problem; until the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1862. 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. King, Martin Luther Jr. Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence. Church Meeting, 1967, Riverside Church, New York City. The speech deemed racial segregation to be an inhumane practice that subdivides society into groups that essentially alienate them from the true sense of humanity; which is brotherhood. In case you can't find a relevant example, our professional writers are ready