By this time, slavery is a very hotly debated issue in America, even eventually leading to the Civil War. Thoreau obviously takes the position against slavery and tries to use his writing to try and convince the citizens of America to stand up against slavery and the laws that protect it. Thoreau often writes of the injustice that the government displays towards its people. For example, Thoreau writes, “Why does it not encourage its citizens to be on the alert to point out its faults, and do better than it would have them?” (184). Thoreau’s purpose is to convince the citizens of America to not follow the majority, but do what is felt to be morally right.
Safire discusses how Lincoln used the “Declaration of Independence when stating “that all men are created equal” (Safire 42). Safire continues discussing this same idea in the eighth paragraph to highlight his argument about the image of birth with the wording of the beginning of the “Declaration of Independence.” Safire also discusses how Lincoln, like many other speechwriters, employ other great speakers into their speeches when discussing how Lincoln used Reverend Theodore Parker’s words in the conclusion of his speech, but that “Lincoln, . . ., dropped the ‘alls’ and made the phrase his own” (43). Wood also analyzes Obama’s use of references in his election night speech.
He also ask “shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction?...are fleets and armies necessary to a work go love and reconciliation?” Henry asks these questions hoping to elicit strong emotions in the audience that work them in favor of his argument. Henry also used allusions to help the reader visualize what’s happening by evoking a mental picture for example when he says “listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beast” he is metaphorically comparing how the British are saying things to the colonist which are promising false hope to how the circle in Homer’s Odyssey
President Kennedy shows awareness of the current issue of segregation using imagery, appropriate language, and tone, which assures the public with compelling remarks that he appreciates those who are making a change and requiring the help of others to change the view of this nation. In Kennedy's speech, the repetitive use of "it ought to be possible" is an effective way to point out the different levels of freedom that restricted the average Negro citizen. With this phrase, it leads into the point that "every American should have the right to be treated as he would wish to be treated." From a different point of view, number phrases were also successful and effective in his speech. Kennedy included phrases such as one-half, one-third, twice as much, and half as much to indicate the chances of an average American Negro to complete certain obstacles equivalent to the average white American.
Dreams are powerful things that are usually the driving force for our words and actions. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech and Old Major’s speech in chapter one of Animal Farm by George Orwell both relay a message and express a problem they wish to solve. The application of rhetorical appeals, like pathos, ethos, and logos were utilized to influence their audience. Although King believed in peaceful rebellion and Old Major promoted violence as an answer, both used rhetorical appeals to notify their audience about the problems of injustice in their society. The injustice that King described was the discrimination and segregation of colored people.
To what extent has textual form shaped your understanding of conflicting perspectives? In any text, conflicting perspectives of events, characters and situations create interest and textual complexities. Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar is an example of a text that is built heavily upon conflicting perspectives, using Caesar’s historic assassination as a catalyst for the exploration of the qualities of leadership and strength. Through a number of monologues and speeches, Shakespeare constructs varied perceptions of a number of important characters and events which highlight the complexities of human nature. Through these conflicting perspectives, the textual form of Julius Caesar creates greater interaction with the audience.
Bobo asks how we can have milestone decisions like Brown V. Board, pass a civil rights act, a voting act, fair housing acts, and numerous acts of enforcement and amendments, including the pursuit of affirmative action policies and still continue to face a significant racial divide in America. Bobo offers these thoughts on the subject. In America we are witnessing the crystallization of a new racial ideology Bobo refers to as laissez-faire racism. Furthermore race and racism remain powerful levers in American national politics. Additionally social science has played a peculiar role in the problem of race according to Bobo.
A distinctive voice refers to someone, or something which has power and control over the responder which is able to manipulate or influence the reader. Distinctive voices are evident in the novel ‘The Life and Crimes of Harry Lavender’ by Marele Day and the speech ‘I Have a Dream’ which was recited by Martin Luther King Jr in 1963. In these texts, the characters and personnel’s are brought to life through the use of dialogue, political driven voices and body language which all play a distinct role in influencing the readers. In these texts ‘The Life and Crimes of Harry Lavender’ and ‘I Have a Dream’ present a distinctive voice through the use of dialogue that make the characters believable. In the novel ‘The Life and Crimes of Harry Lavender’ by Marele Day, the protagonist Claudia Valentine influences the reader through the use of dialogue which makes her seem like a credential character.
The Battle within the Dream Within "Battle Royal", by Ralph Ellison, Ellison was able to provide enough imagery through very detailed scenes to entail deeper meanings to certain symbols. These symbols stand within the story, and are stressed by the simple concept of repetition. The narrator's mind is filled with the thought of his speech and his grandfather's "curse", while he still ponders upon the American Dream. "And yet, I had begun to worry about my speech again", the speech itself is continues to come back and engulf the narrator, yet is used to accomplish the Dream and conquer the curse. (Ellison 282) Things of this nature are emotionally tied, yet holds a physical effect.
King has used this device to validate the statements he is making directly following the quote. Some of the more powerful allusions used during this speech are from Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson, both highly respected white men. “Five score years ago” was written in a way to draw attention to Lincoln. Those words are particularly meaningful because Kings Speech was giving in front of Lincoln memorial. Kings mention of the Emancipation Proclamation was to bring the spectators back to 1865 when Lincoln himself, who was not only morally opposed to slavery, however, was a President who defeated the matter of slavery in the south.