“Time goes by and contexts change but great texts continue to hold relevant messages for the responder.”
Evaluate the understanding you have gained from your critical study of text in different contexts. In your response you should discuss the construction, content and language of your text/s.
Although uniquely crafted for a specific time and place, with a particular purpose for the social and cultural context, it is certainly true that great speeches and their messages continue to resonate with responders throughout time. While personal interpretations of meaning and value may differ among audiences of different contexts, the universal concerns shared by society, that transcend both time and place, ensure that the messages remitted through great speeches are of timeless relevance. I believe this is evident in both Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” and Emma Goldman’s “The political criminal of today must needs be the saint of a new age”, as their pertinent messages have been shaped in such a way, due to the effective use of rhetorical technique, that they can be simply translated to the audience, ensuring their speeches were memorable and resonate with a contemporary audience due to their universal themes of freedom and equality.
Delivered during the March on Washington for jobs and freedom in 1963, from the steps of the Lincoln memorial, King’s “I have dream” speech retains enduring power due to his focus on the universal concepts of equality, racial justice and freedom, which are issues still relevant to us today. Their relevance can be underscored, when we consider the conflict in Darfur, and the African-Arab government’s treatment of the black minority.
Through fiery rhetoric and an amalgamation of metaphors and similes King conveyed the need to put an end to racial segregation and recognise that all people are created equal. Speaking directly to the Negroes of Mississippi and Alabama, King begins with a historic allusion to the declaration of independence that “all men are created equal”. In this way, he reinforces to the audience that they were robbed of equality, as well as gives his message credibility, thus allowing him to establish rapport with his audience. By using an extended metaphor of cashing a cheque and defaulting on a loan, King ensures that his audience can relate to his message and in doing so, they can understand and respond. King writes "America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked insufficient funds ", a simple metaphor to comprehend, yet conveying a much deeper message of the civil rights issue. Through his juxtaposition of phrases, such as “quicksands of racial injustice” to the “solid ground of brotherhood”, King makes clear his message to his audience, warning them that the nation is sinking with no hope of recovery, but that justice and equality can pull the nation up. The repetition of the clause “Now is the time” adds to the rhetorical effectiveness of King’s speech, reinforcing the hope and faith he offers.
In line with events of the time, the message of freedom for all people is also conveyed in King’s speech, as it appropriately reflected the contexts, during a period when blacks were repressed to forced slavery. In a contemporary context the theme of freedom can be related to by an audience of today, particularly in the current political climate of the blockade of the Gaza strip by Israeli forces. By using hyperboles and contrasts, King makes his message of freedom more accessible for his audience and thus, more persuasive. When King bellows that “This sweltering heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice”, he hyperbolises the suffering of his people using words with negative connotations, such as “sweltering” and “heat”, which he juxtaposes to the serene metaphoric imagery of “an oasis of freedom and justice”. King’s repetition of key phrases such as “I have a dream” and “Let freedom ring”, further reinforces his message of freedom, and simultaneously through his use of inclusive pronouns, such as ‘I’ he involves the audience in the speech, as if each person is involved in fighting for the principles of equality; a technique which Goldman also skillfully applies. The emphatic way in which these lines are delivered creates a sense of urgency within the audience and moves them to progress further towards justice and liberty. His musical tone with repetition climaxing by crescendo intensifies his statement and inspires the emotions of the audience. His tone becomes louder and faster, thus more imperative to ‘let freedom ring’.
During its delivery King’s message of freedom, equality and racial justice was well-received by his audience of almost a quarter million, who adored King for standing up against the oppression that the blacks of America had endured for centuries. King’s skillful oration and simple rhetorical technique even inspired President Kennedy and his white cabinet, who initially despised King. Following King’s speech they passed the federal civil rights legislation. I believe given the more open minded nature of today’s audience, we are better able to value the speech for its messages. Nevertheless, King’s brilliant use of rhetoric and skillful construction ensures that his speech retains its enduring power, despite changing contexts. This is reflected in the fact that today there are federal laws against discrimination.
At the time of the Great War, a time where the nation was bound by patriotism, Goldman was on trial for her controversial anarchist views, which were seen as a threat to patriotism and the government. As a result of my study of Goldman’s speech I have gained knowledge that the contentious nature of her universal concepts of equality and freedom, give her speech timeless importance.
Similar to King, Goldman conveys her message of freedom, specifically the need for freedom of speech, as well as attempts to defend her anarchist position and persuade the jurors to agree with her views. Whilst contemporary audiences may be more accepting to Goldman’s message of free speech and anarchist views, the jurors/audience of her time would have viewed such ideas and messages as fanatical. To successfully persuade the jurors/audience Goldman used a list of rhetoric to make her message and defense convincing. Goldman used rhetorical questions, for instance “Shall free speech…be destroyed?”. This immediately involved her audience and made them reflect on the issue being raised. In this particular example, Goldman appealed to the audience’s patriotism, highlighting her belief in free speech and justice for all. By continually raising these questions Goldman’s audience is required to consider and challenge their own opinions, essential to Goldman if she is to persuade them with her messages. Goldman ironically uses biblical allusions in her speech even though she is of communist standing and therefore doesn’t recognise religion. Through the repeated use of “Verily resonates Jesus”, Goldman shows her ability to connect and identify with her mostly Christian audience, portraying her message of universal peace and liberty. Goldman’s use of rhetoric persuades her audience to accept her radical views by appealing to their sense of democracy and freedom for all. By invoking an emotional response, we can see that the execution of rhetorical technique is essential in creating a successful speech, as it is what gives the speech its enduring power, and thus timeless importance.
Like King, Goldman’s speech also carries a message of equality and racial justice. However, Goldman’s message analyses the way women are treated by power wielding men, more specifically in the legal and political system. With sexism still a rampant issue in today’s context, particularly when considering women still get paid 16 per cent less than men, Goldman’s message of equality and discrimination continues to retain enduring power. During her defence against claims of conspiracy Goldman defends her anarchist position and utilises sarcasm and truncated sentences to ridicule the jury when she repeatedly declares that she is facing “Gentlemen of the jury” and only gentlemen. The anaphora illustrates her contempt that there are no females present in the jury, that these men are supposed to be honest gentlemen, an oxymoron in her eyes, and so should treat her the same way they would treat others in the same position.
Historically, Goldman’s speech failed as she insisted on pushing conventions at a turbulent time, however that only strengthens its power today. In today’s context Goldman’s messages and themes of democracy and freedom of speech are still relevant, as they are still be questioned. Maybe even more so now, given that there is no longer a social threat of communism or anarchism. With a wider knowledge of political ideologies, a contemporary audience can respect the speech for its controversial nature & its brilliant use of oratory technique adding to its enduring power.
Through my study of the two speeches by Martin Luther King and Emma Goldman, I have learnt that the messages of worthy orations can be appreciated both during and after the time of delivery. This is due to their perfect execution of the art & intellect of rhetoric, as well as their inclusion of values specific to their time and universal for all time: Freedom, equality and racial justice.
JUST WRITE DOWN THE PARTS I CAN CUT PLZ! YOU GUYS ARE THE GREATEST
Okay, I used to LOVE writing essays in school as a nerdy teenager – but seriously: can't you write an essay which will win you a high mark and write it without a maximum word count!?
Well if you have to have a certain amount of words I would:
1. ReRead your essay and double check you don't repeat the same idea twice (or more!)
2. Look at each paragraph and reduce your infomation by finding unnecessary ideas or less interesting parts which is not required for the essay.
3. Rewrite the essay in parts so you can find out if you can reduce the word count even more. You think more about your work when you rewrite your project. I ALWAYS used to rewrite my homework and all the essays I got assigned AT LEAST twice. Sometimes but rarely three times. It helps you concentrate on it more.