Report Example on Aristotle's Three Models of Speech: Ethos, Pathos, Logos

Introduction

Aristotle, while seeking to explain how rhetoric functions, avers that in spoken word, the speaker relies on three models in order to deliver his message perfectly. The first model entails ethos, which refers to the speaker’s personal character. The second model, pathos, involves affecting the audience’s mentality or its frame of mind in order to help them relate with the speaker. Lastly, logos, entails the use of proof or logic to convince the audience. When all the three are well-used and integrated, the speaker is able to persuade the audience.

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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in his speech, I Have a Dream, employs the same technique to move the masses (American Rhetoric, 1963). Throughout the “I have a Dream speech”, Martin Luther King Jr. uses the appeals of logos and pathos to draw support for his argument that African Americans were unfairly treated. This paper thus seeks to provide critical analysis of the same speech, owing to the techniques of ethos, pathos, and logos to determine whether his arguments in the speech were successful or not.

The speech is remembered as one of the most heartwarming in the history of America. It transitioned America into a new era. Through the use of persuasive rhetoric, King pointed is people to a new direction, while urging them to remain united. He shared the same principle of nonviolence as Mahatma Gandhi did. Thus, his wish was that whites and people of color would come together as one. He envisioned a society without discrimination, where both whites and people of color would share or co-exist in the same spaces without being regarded as different.

Ethos

King began his speech as follows (American Rhetoric, 1963):

“I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.”

These words were a significant call for unity and urged that everyone ought to stand against discrimination. From these words, he lays the framework for his speech, i.e., freedom, non-discrimination, and happiness that was long-lasting. Further, throughout his speech, he consistently paid reference to America’s founding fathers, who had envisioned a free and just America.

It is through all these that King succeeds in appealing to the ethical front of his audience. Every person of color pictured a dream-like country within which peace, calm and prosperity was the order of the day; a cohesive society where they were not judged by the color of their skin due to racial discrimination; and where those promises, through the Emancipation Proclamation, that had been made to them during Lincoln’s reign would be fulfilled.

King’s speech succeeded in the ethical approach it sought. It vibrated with every single person, as it was all they had ever decided. Listening to their concerns being aired out most genuinely, by one who was like them, captured the attention even more.

Pathos

As King proceeded, his speech grew more dramatic and engaging. He painted the blunt picture of the frustrating years of neglect that had been meted upon the people of color. Having been one of them, one could feel his soul and rage. He expresses anger and disgust at the hurdles that have prevented African Americans from realizing happiness in their lives.

Pathos, in his speech, is advanced further when he avers that the fundamental rights and freedoms that had been denied to African Americans were owed to them and that the nation was indebted to them. He insists that everyone should hold onto hope since equality would ultimately prevail. His tone is full of urgency, yet so passionate and energetic. He continually uses imagery to stir up pictures that bear firm and meaningful impressions.

He presents two pictures - the everyday reality of the life of an African American, and his dream for what the life of an African American ought to be. His dream encompasses everyone, including the white folks. How he brings out the forms of torture meted upon African Americans while fighting for equality and freedom, adds further emotional appeal to his speech.

Logos

King envisioned a country with equality, unity, and brotherhood. Millions of his followers shared similar beliefs. America had failed to fulfill its promise to African Americans, and he wanted the realization of these dreams and promises to happen faster. He supports this logic by referring to American history. He avers that the only peaceful way of ending the misery that had long befallen African Americans was through nonviolence. He avers:

“We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protests to degenerate into physical violence.” The emphasis he lay on nonviolence strengthened his logic. His dream of a united America can only be realized through peaceful means.

From the above discussions, it can be concluded that Dr. Martin Luther King did indeed succeed in drumming up support for his arguments on the unfair treatment of African Americans. He effectively employed the use of ethos, logos and pathos, and got the audience to resonate with all that he said.

Work Cited

American Rhetoric, Top 100 Speeches. (1963). Retrieved July 24, 2020, from https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm