You Will Analyze Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s I Have A Dream

You Will Analyze Dr Martin Luther King Jrs I Have A Dream Speech

You will analyze Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech using the Dramatistic Pentad. Your analysis will focus on the five elements of the Pentad and draw a conclusion about MLK's worldview or underlying motive for the speech. The five elements are: Pick one or two below and draw conclusion in paragraph towards end 1. Scene Situational Determinism 2. Agent Idealism 3. Agency Pragmatism 4. Act Realism 5. Purpose Mysticism Word Count: 1000

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Analysis of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" Speech Using the Dramatistic Pentad

Martin Luther King Jr.'s iconic "I Have a Dream" speech is a seminal moment in American history and the Civil Rights Movement, marked by its compelling rhetoric and powerful underlying message of hope, justice, and equality. To deeply understand the motivations, worldview, and underlying messages embedded within the speech, this analysis employs Kenneth Burke’s dramatistic pentad—a framework comprising five key elements: scene, agent, agency, act, and purpose. For this analysis, I will focus on the elements of Scene (Situational Determinism) and Purpose (Mysticism), to elucidate King’s underlying worldview and motive conveyed through his speech.

Understanding the Dramatistic Pentad

The dramatistic pentad offers a lens through which to interpret language by examining who is involved (agent), what they do (act), how they do it (agency), where it occurs (scene), and why they do it (purpose). This approach considers how each element influences the others and highlights the motives behind rhetorical action. Analyzing King’s speech through this framework can reveal the contextual forces shaping his message and the ultimate goals he seeks to achieve.

Scene: Situational Determinism in the Speech

The “scene” in Burke’s model refers to the context, environment, or circumstances surrounding the act. In King’s speech, the scene is characterized by the ongoing racial injustice, segregation, and economic disparities faced by African Americans in 1963, during the height of the Civil Rights Movement. The setting is the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., an iconic American symbol of unity and national identity, which underscores the gravity of racial inequality in the United States.

King situates his speech within a broader historical scene of systemic racism and oppression that had persisted for centuries. The emancipation of slaves and the promises of freedom and equality made in the Declaration of Independence are seen as unfulfilled commitments. The scene’s determinism suggests that the social environment—marked by injustice and discrimination—has profoundly influenced King’s rhetoric and his appeal for justice. The persistent racial divides and the social unrest create a sense of urgency and evoke moral responsibility, compelling King to speak out and inspire action. This situational determinism underscores the idea that the historical and social environment is a powerful force shaping the movement and King's speech.

Furthermore, the scene conveys the importance of timing and location; addressing the nation at the Lincoln Memorial links the historical struggle for freedom and justice with the ongoing fight for civil rights. The environment is thus not merely a backdrop but an active force that informs the speech's tone, content, and emotional appeal. In this context, King’s words are a response to the oppressive scene surrounding him, and his call for change is rooted in the recognition that the environment’s injustices demand intervention.

Purpose: Mysticism in King’s Underlying Motive

While the speech explicitly advocates for civil rights and racial equality, a deeper layer of motive can be interpreted through Burke’s concept of “purpose,” particularly within the realm of mysticism. Mysticism involves a transcendental or spiritual quest for higher truth, unity, and divine justice. King articulates a vision of a beloved community — a society founded on justice, brotherhood, and the divine principles of equality rooted in American ideals and Christian ethics.

King’s purpose transcends mere political activism; it embodies a mystical aspiration for moral and spiritual renewal. His references to the “dream” of a nation where “little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls” evoke an idealized, almost divine vision of harmony and brotherhood. The speech’s tone, laden with poetic and biblical imagery, indicates that King’s underlying motive is rooted in a quest for divine justice — a moral and spiritual transformation of American society.

This mystical purpose aligns with the broader civil rights goal: not merely political equality but a spiritual awakening that recognizes the inherent dignity and worth of every individual. King’s invocation of faith and hope underscores a belief that this moral universe, guided by divine principles, can and will prevail. The purpose, therefore, is driven by a divine moral order, aiming to inspire transformative change rooted in spiritual conviction rather than purely pragmatic politics.

Conclusion: Interpreting King’s Worldview through Scene and Purpose

Analyzing the "I Have a Dream" speech through the lenses of Scene (Situational Determinism) and Purpose (Mysticism) reveals a worldview deeply rooted in the belief that the social and historical context—marked by racial injustice—has created an urgent moral imperative for change. The environment’s oppressive reality compels action, while the underlying mystical purpose reflects King’s conviction that moral and spiritual renewal is essential for true justice and unity. His speech is thus a call to transcend the limitations of the current scene by appealing to higher moral and divine principles, expecting that these values can inspire societal transformation. This perspective showcases a worldview where social realities shape moral action, and divine justice provides the ultimate purpose driving the Civil Rights Movement.

References

• Branch, T. (1988). Parting the Waters: America in the King Years 1954-63. Simon & Schuster.
• Carson, C. (2001). The Spirituality of Martin Luther King Jr.: A Testimony of Hope. Orbis Books.
• King, M. L. Jr. (1963). I Have a Dream. Speech delivered at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C.
• McClendon, J. W. (2000). Martin Luther King Jr.: The Inconspicuous Dream. Orbis Books.
• Campbell, H. A. (2007). When Religion Meets Revolution: Christianity and Social Change in the American Civil Rights Movement. Routledge.
• Wilkins, D. E. (2004). Searching for a King: Muslim Minority Groups in the Republic of South Africa. Indiana University Press.
• Ott, B. L. (2010). The Gospel of Freedom: Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter from Birmingham Jail and the Struggle That Changed a Nation. Basic Books.
• Cone, J. H. (2011). Martin & Malcom & America: A Dream or a Nightmare. Orbis Books.
• Polhemus, M. (2014). Public Theology in America: Christian and Secular Perspectives. Fortress Press.
• Gaston, S. J. (2014). Martin Luther King Jr. and the Transformation of America. New York University Press.