I Have a Dream - Critical Rhetorical Analysis Essay

I Have a Dream - Critical Rhetorical Analysis - Essay Example The speech was part of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and the speech refers to these themes time and again. The march was designed to put greater pressure on the Kennedy administration in order to advance civil rights legislation within Congress. (Carson) Evidence suggests that the President was worried that if a large crowd did not appear for the march then the civil rights drive in Congress might be affected negatively. There was a dire need to bring in large numbers to prove the unequivocal support for the civil rights movement. The organisers of the march were able to attract large numbers but this presented unique challenges. There were chances that the march might turn into a violent mob based demonstration. Dr. King dealt with this possibility in his speech by persuading the audience that freedom was around the corner and that violence was not going to get them anywhere. Subsequent events proved the efficacy of King’s words. The real contention behind the speech was a collective desire to surmount racial injustice and to integrate society on a commonly shared identity. The Black Civil Rights Movement had sparked off a few years ago. Momentum had been building and some of the momentum had turned to violence. Scores of mistreated African Americans were learning to organise themselves into an effective political instrument. Protests to this effect were increasing and bore testimony to the increasing political coherence of the African American community. King and other visionary leaders such as JFK knew that the country was fast becoming a powder keg. There was a dire need to vent the building pressure of social hate and injustice. This was only possible if legislation to this effect ensured the rights of all American citizens as equal. This speech was effectively aimed at encouraging further positive action on the part of African Americans to pressurise the legislators for legislation and to ensure that violence did not mar the face of the movement. Notably, Martin Luther King employed his skills as a Baptist minister and his intellect as a history aficionado to deliver multiple messages effectively. Rhetorical Devices Employed in â€Å"I Have A Dream† Martin Luther King’s speech is distinct because of the various rhetorical devices it utilises. Most of the rhetorical devices used in this speech are well balanced and connected to each other. The more notable rhetorical techniques utilised to create this speech are: phrases have been emphasized through repetition at the start of sentences; specific key words have been repeated throughout the speech; appropriate quotations and allusions are utilised; concrete examples are presented in order to back up arguments; metaphors have been utilised to highlight contrasting concepts. These major techniques are briefly discussed below to analyse the speech within rhetorical perspectives. Anaphora Anaphora refers to the repetition of words at the start of neighbo uring clauses and is one of the commonest rhetorical devices used. The repetition of words tends to create a discernable pattern for the audience. In effect the audience can connect better to the spoken words because of the certain predictability offered by repeating words.

Shakespearean tragedies vs greek tragedies Research Paper

Shakespearean tragedies vs greek tragedies - Research Paper Example This paper aims to show elements of Greek tragedy that are present in Shakespearean tragedy, even though differences between them also exist. Macbeth Crime and punishment are the themes in Shakespeare famous tragedy, Macbeth. The lead character Macbeth is the typical Greek tragic hero because he has a tragic character flaw. This is â€Å"hubris† which also means extreme arrogance or pride that exceeds what is realistic. More accurately in ancient Greek context, it is actually a legal term that refers to actions that not only physically hurt, but also humiliate the victim, for the personal enjoyment of the abuser (Cohen, 1991). The crime therefore is not only in the harm caused but more in the pleasure taken by the abuser. In Greek tragedy, hubris, breach of hospitality, and murder are sins that are surely followed by punishment (Khare, 1998). In Greek tragedy, Paris displayed hubris when, despite the hospitality shown him by Menelaus of Sparta, he kidnapped Menelaus’ wi fe Helen, and because of this the city of Troy was destroyed. In comparison, Macbeth showed all three - hubris in his ambition to be king, murder in killing Duncan, Banquo, Lady Macduff and her children, and breach of hospitality when he murders King Duncan who was then a guest in his house. Many have likened Macbeth to Oedipus in Greek tragedy, because Oedipus was likewise guilty of all three sins. Like Macbeth, Oedipus also meets a violent death as punishment, which may be seen as the embodiment of â€Å"Nemesis† (Greek goddess of revenge) from another world (Khare, 1998, p. 196). In Greek tragedy, the Fates act as prophetesses who predict the future. In Shakespeare, the predictions are made by the three witches â€Å"or weird sisters† (Coddon, 1989). Witches are more in line with English culture and tradition, thus combining an English element with a Greek tragic element. In both instances, however, the predictions made by the Greek Fates and the Shakespearean witch es are not straightforward and have a hidden meaning that leads the hero to greater trouble. Finally, for both heroes, there is a realization in the end as well as spiritual growth, although it may have come too late for redemption. There are differences in plot between Macbeth and Oedipus, however. Oedipus committed parricide unknowingly, but Macbeth was fully aware of the evil of his deed. Oedipus reflects the classical Greek tragic element of divine intervention, which is the â€Å"perfect embodiment† in classic Greek literature. On the other hand, Macbeth is the â€Å"Renaissance† figure who â€Å"can be understood and ultimately criticised only by reference to defined standards of moral philosophy† (Sanders, 1968, p. 308). Macbeth also embodies elements of Western Christianity, whereas Oedipus reflects pre-Christian philosophy. Therefore, while Oedipus may be powerful in the ancient times because it conformed to the ethical standard of the day of Sophocles; likewise for Macbeth, which in its own style portrayed the ethical standard of Elizabethan England. The tragedy of Oedipus was the working of the gods in a divine-centric era. In Macbeth, man was the center and cause of the tragic act which reflected the Renaissance philosophy. Julius Caesar Julius Caesar is seen as a colossal hero, like Oedipus, who â€Å"