Martin Luther King and Jasper Jones

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How have the texts you have studied explored ideas about change? To be blamed for all manner of trouble? To be seared in the flames of withering injustice... Craig Silvey's Jasper Jones and Martin Luther King's I have a dream conjointly take their reader into the changing world of righteousness. Through the use of varying literary and rhetorical techniques, both texts convey change as empowering, irreversible and sadly destructive. King and Silvey both effectively create characters confronted by adversity through which the reader can sympathise. Martin Luther King's I have a Dream, and Craig Silvey's Jasper Jones collectively highlight the 'empowering' aspect of change conveyed throughout their texts. 'Change' is conveyed as empowering as it provides hope and strength for discriminated people in the 1960's. King's emphasis on repetition, enhances the 'empowering' quality of his speech. The repetition of the phrase: "One hundred years later" following mention of Lincoln's emancipation proclamation, and the repetition in the form of anaphora "I Have a Dream", proves powerful as it reminds the reader that "the negro still is not free", that they are still fighting for justice. Lastly, Kings use of pathos in: "I Have a dream, that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character". This reminds the reader that we are all human, that even King wants the best for his children in life; enhancing the 'empowering' quality of his speech. Similarly, Silvey creates an emotional scene with prevailing apprehensive tone conveyed when Jasper is in despair: "And that's why I need your help. Because you're smart, and you're different to the others" coupled with: "They reckon I'm half an animal with half a vote." The apprehensive tone emphasises Jasper's final plea, and when

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