- Published: September 17, 2022
- Updated: September 17, 2022
- University / College: Stanford University
- Level: Masters
- Language: English
- Downloads: 14
We can identify few rhetorical features which Martin Luther King implements in order to appeal to a greater audience. He utilizes the rhetorical mode of pathos, which is related to human emotions. According to Merriam-Webster dictionary (2015), pathos is defined as “ an element in experience or in artistic representation” which can provoke pity or compassion. By using human compassion in his speech, Martin Luther King summons his listeners to “ join hands” together, instead of instigating racism and wish for a better world.
In additional to pathos, Martin Luther King applied two other modes of rhetoric – ethos and logos.
Ethos can be explained as the social ethics and logos comes from the greek word for logic (King, 2010). I believe the logos as a rhetoric features hasnt been used as frequently as the pathos and ethos. These three rhetorical modes, make Martin Luther King an eloquent and skillful public speaker.
