I Have A Dream Allusion

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On August 28th 1963 Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his now famous “I Have a Dream” speech. The speech incorporated numerous literary elements while passing on a message of equality and acceptance. This message resonated with thousands of equality activists who were in attendance at the Lincoln memorial. Literary elements in this speech include but are not limited to similes, and examples of allusion. One of the prominent literary devices used in Martin Luther King Junior’s “I Have a Dream” speech is the simile. Throughout history speeches have used simile as a source of catching attention. Specifically, in MLK’s speech, he writes “No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.” Here, King compares the American public’s satisfaction to a mighty river. Similes simplify complex concepts for the general public. Another significant literary device frequently used in “I Have a Dream” is allusion. MLK first uses allusion in the speech’s first sentence, when he says “Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation.” This…show more content…
The true shining aspect of this speech is its message to the people. The goal of this momentous speech was to demand racial justice and integrated society. In the delivery of his speech, Martin finds ways to put weight on the audiences shoulders. Pressuring them into choosing the path of righteousness. Martin exclaims “We cannot walk alone. And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back.” Showing that we the people need to stand up and take action leaving behind the reminiscences of our past doings. For this is Martin Luther King Junior’s dream. This is how he believed the world should work, and through this impactful speech he single handedly changed the
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