John Lewis Speech Rhetorical Analysis
John Lewis introduces pathos into his speech when he is describing the violent methods of the government against blacks. For example, Lewis vividly describes the notorious actions of the government when saying, “What did the federal government do when local police officials kicked and assaulted the pregnant wife of Slater King, and she lost her baby?” (para. 6). In this statement, Lewis shows how the government has failed to keep black people safe and continue to harm them, and that these people harmed can not recover from the pain they have received. Lewis utilizes pathos in order to gain the audience's support, to gain their sympathy and perhaps make the event sound more gruesome than it actually was, which nonetheless was an inhumane act
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For instance, in paragraph seven, Lewis States, “ But we will go to jail if this is the price we must pay for love, brotherhood, and true peace.” (para. 7). In other words, Lewis is saying that he will only go to jail if the government promises equal civil rights. Possibly Lewis is giving his last offer, that his last resort will be going to jail, which he has been resenting all this time. This is ironic in the sense that to get what he wants most, he must do what he hates the most. In addition, Lewis states, “ We do not want our freedom gradually, but we want to be free now! We are tired. We are tired of being beaten by policemen.” (para. 7). To sum it up, Lewis not longer wants to wait, he wants the bill passed by the government now to ensure equal rights. From this, readers can infer that Lewis is not going to wait any longer, which is ironic because black people have been discriminated against and segregated for so long, hundreds of years, and finally they have decided to not wait any longer, one would assume they would be somewhat happy with at least a gradual change. The effect of using irony shows the audience that all Lewis wants is equal civil rights, and if it means he has to do the thing he hates most to get what is best for the rest of his group he will do so which is the irony. In addition, this shows that
For instance, in paragraph seven, Lewis States, “ But we will go to jail if this is the price we must pay for love, brotherhood, and true peace.” (para. 7). In other words, Lewis is saying that he will only go to jail if the government promises equal civil rights. Possibly Lewis is giving his last offer, that his last resort will be going to jail, which he has been resenting all this time. This is ironic in the sense that to get what he wants most, he must do what he hates the most. In addition, Lewis states, “ We do not want our freedom gradually, but we want to be free now! We are tired. We are tired of being beaten by policemen.” (para. 7). To sum it up, Lewis not longer wants to wait, he wants the bill passed by the government now to ensure equal rights. From this, readers can infer that Lewis is not going to wait any longer, which is ironic because black people have been discriminated against and segregated for so long, hundreds of years, and finally they have decided to not wait any longer, one would assume they would be somewhat happy with at least a gradual change. The effect of using irony shows the audience that all Lewis wants is equal civil rights, and if it means he has to do the thing he hates most to get what is best for the rest of his group he will do so which is the irony. In addition, this shows that