Wednesday, March 13, 2013

A Rhetorical Analysis Of Two Speeches


Chimamanda Adichie: The Danger Of A Single Story - October 7, 2009


Martin Luther King, Jr.: I Have A Dream Speech - August 28, 1963

Rhetorical Analysis:

Chimamanda Adichie is a novelist and a story teller who gave a persuasive speech on what she calls, "The Danger Of A Single Story". This danger has the power to start and fuel the vicious cycles of prejudice, racism, and stereotypes that steals dignity from an individual as well as a specific groups of peoples. Adichie presented her speech on a website called Ted.com. Her objective was to persuade everyone to tell and share their stories with everyone so that there is no "single story" to define any one person or group. She truly believes that, although it may take a great deal of time to undo what damage has already been done, this is the only way to break the vicious cycles of prejudice, racism, and stereotypes and shows evidence in her presentation from real life and personal experiences. Adichie is extremely successful in persuasively reaching her audience by using logos, pathos, and ethos. Her delivery is passionate and shows how comfortable she is as her own person. Adichie's voice and demeanor makes it so easy to listen to her words and message with such mesmerizing fascination. She uses logos and pathos when using real life and personal examples as well as quotes from people such as John Locke to support her arguement and to provide evidence. Ethos is used when she uses humor and also when she tells a personal story so much so that when she is telling the various stories one can feel ashamed and guilty for ever falling for the single story and one can feel empathy for knowing what it is like when someone has used a single story to define you as a person, all at once.

Martin Luther King, Jr. was a clergyman, activists, and leader in the African American Civil Rights Movement. He presented this speech, one of, if not, his most famous speech in Washington, D.C. King's speech is on equality for all no matter what race/ethnicity and gender, but specificially the equal rights and treatment of Afircan American/Blacks. His speech speaks of his dreams of no more racism and prejudice towards anyone and equality for all. His delivery is full of passion and energy which brings one's spirits up and empowers one to fight for equal rights and to stop racism and prejudice. He even quotes and references small parts of "The Getttsburg Address" and of accomplishments Abraham Lincoln greatly assisted in making a reality. Such references and quotes us a a strong way of successfully using logos and pathos; which he is victorious at doing. King also uses references of current events going on at the time or prior to his speech. He engages the audience which is a great use of ethos because the audience's feelings of the speaker and the message of speech is enhanced and solidified. The tone of his voice has a preacher essence which gives the speech a rhythmic sound making it easy to listen and wanting to listen. 


Both speakers present persuasive speeches and deliver them in such a way that keeps the audience riveted, full of energy, and just as passionate. In their own ways, both speakers advocate for equality, express the dangers of racism, prejudice, and stereotypes from the past, present, and future, and urge the audience to get involved to help change the ongoing events. Both speeches use logos, pathos, and ethos in some way to get the attention of the audience, educate the audience, and flow passion into the audience. Although there is a huge time gap between when the two speeches were presented, both share the persuasive message of the call for equality and how individuals and groups should perceive themselves and others. The message of the speakers is that we have the power to make the changes and that we should, together. The locations the speakers presented at shows the evident time difference and the difference in how information is shared and spread currently and back in King's day. We have come a long ways since and before the time of Martin Luther to Chimamanda Adichie. However, Adichie's speech shows that there is so much more progress and change that still has to be made and perhaps has even yet to come. Both speakers styles are effective ways of persuading the need for change and how to go about it. 

-Nicole Wood 

1 comment:

  1. it was very useful for my english assignment, for school.

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