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These devices are the foundation of King’s unique and effective style. In I Have a Dream King uses repetition throughout. Repetition is a good tool to use to reinforce an important idea. In Dorothy Seyler’s Read, Reason, Write, she states: ‘Some repetition of key words and phrases will occur in well-written and unified essays. Some writers, though, go beyond this technique of unified writing and use repetition to produce an effective cadence, like a drum beating in the background, keeping time with the speaker’s fist pounding the lectern for emphasis.’ (58). King’s speech is a perfect representation of this. I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal." I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slaveowners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream that one day the state of Alabama, whose governor's lips are presently dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, will be transformed into a situation where little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers. I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. King uses the repetition of the title be the ‘drum beating’. He uses these words and follows them with things that he knows that people are hoping for. He uses the word dream, because it is such a personal and deep commodity. The phrases he adds to the end of this representation are also very personal. This is so effectual because the target audience of this speech can see these visualizations become reality. This audience probably includes many parents, like King, making his reference to his children universal. Also, the familiarity of bible-type language (especially in the last paragraph of the example), draws the listener closer into his dream. All of the changes to the phrase ‘I have a dream’ are additions to the end, except the first one of the paragraph. The first sentence in this passage includes the word ‘still’. This creates an energy, because it gives the sense that the dream will not go away, it will not diminish. This is very potent, because it’s the only change to the actual small phrase ‘I have a dream’ throughout the whole speech. It makes the speech continue. Even now, over 30 years after his death, reading through the speech gives the reader a sense that things are not complete, and that King still has a dream. A metaphor is a very effective way to illustrate an idea. King uses many metaphors, both large and small, to describe many different notions. ‘Metaphors, like connotative words, are so powerful, so emotionally compelling, that we respond to the even if we are not conscious of their use.’ (Seyler 56). In a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men would be guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check -- a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to open the doors of opportunity to all of God's children. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. The above passage includes many metaphors to engage the listener. King illustrates the injustice that America has placed upon its colored citizens of color in the contrasting of the idea of moral debt (owed by the country) to a financial debt. This comparison is especially effective because of its familiarity, as nearly everyone can relate to a ‘promissory note’ and ‘insufficient funds’ (now more commonly referred to as ‘checks’ and ‘bouncing’ respectively). King refers to the Americans as ‘heirs’ to which this debt is owed, signifying that the people are unquestionable entitled to their inalienable rights. King adds many small touches that enhance the larger idea. He refers to freedom as ‘riches’. The money theme, which is prevalent through the speech, works well because this is a capitalist society. People are concerned with getting money, because money is needed to live. The average oppressed black man was concerned more with getting money to feed his family than freedom. King using the world ‘riches’ shows this average man that freedom is the key to these riches. That freedom should be the real goal. That freedom is the best hope for his posterity. That freedom will give him that opportunity for all other riches. From beginning to end, King uses small metaphors mingling with the larger more involved metaphors. Even within this small selection there are several. He refers to gradualism as a tranquilizing drug. This is one of the most powerful metaphors within the speech, though it is one of the least developed. This was meant to incite action. The action cannot be gradual, as then it wouldn’t be effective. And gradual action is easy to get caught up in, and more importantly, it’s easy for the opposition to ambush. The last sentence refers to racial injustice as ‘quicksand’ and brotherhood as ‘solid rock’. This gives great visual and physical representation to these non-physical terms. Quicksand is a symbol for an unstable existence. This is probably because it tends to conjure up thoughts of sinking or being sucked into the ground. The ground is indicative of strength and stability. Solid rock, which is in turn used with brotherhood, happens to be what the Earth’s crust is made of. So this ‘solid rock’ is the opposite and stands for steadiness and support. Justice is security, something every human needs for survival. King used so many literary techniques effectively, that analyzing them is almost impossible. This speech illustrates his true genius. The language within the speech is so complex, but it is all interconnected. The metaphors and repetition are very powerful, and really engage the audience. All of these different devices are what represent King’s unique style. Bibliography: Seyler, Dorothy U. Read, Reason, Write. Fifth Edition. McGraw-Hill College, 1999. Word Count: 1407
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