Song of the moment: "American Jesus" By Bad Religion
I just finished my responses to the essay questions given to us in English class about Martin Luther King Jr.'s
"I Have a Dream" speech. Bear with me, it's pretty long. I got a little carried away answering the questions and went up to 6 pages [1.5 spaced] when I was only supposed to fill out this one-page paper with these questions on it and have like, a one paragraph answer for each question. I decided to type my answers, and got a little bit carried away as I was doing it. =X
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Mil Alba
English 10
Nestojko, B8
1. Reexamine the first two paragraphs of King’s essay. Is King’s appeal mainly logical, emotional, or ethical? Explain.
His first two paragraphs were more emotional because he talks about the un-equal opportunities of the African Americans so metaphorically, that it not only gives you a logical and ethical appeal, but it presents it in such an emotional way that hits people’s hearts deep inside about the morals of equality. He strategically uses emotion as a way to get his point across.
One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination.”
Instead of just saying, “After all this time, we are still separated and labeled unethically”, he uses metaphors such as “chains of discrimination” to show that the way white people treated African Americans really felt like heavy chains that dragged them down everywhere they went.
2. How does King continue this appeal throughout the remainder of his essay?
He talks about the morality of humanity in a way that really makes people think. He makes you question “why” it has to be this way, when we have the chance of changing it. He makes you question why this was okay, when so many people were suffering through emotional and social difficulties just because the color of their skin was a different tone than that of a European.
“It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment and to underestimate the determination of the Negro. This sweltering summer of the Negro’s legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality.”
He talks about how the African Americans will never quit until justice for their people is served. In his metaphor, he describes the issue of discrimination and un-equality against the African Americans as a “sweltering summer” that everyone would have to bear with through the fight for equality until the time of the “invigorating autumn” when equality is served and justified.
3. Explain King’s reference to a promissory note.
In definition, a promissory note is a check given from the bank. In King’s metaphor, the U.S. gave a check for freedom and liberty to all of its people. Yet, with his point of inequality, the people that received the bad check were the African Americans. In his argument, the Africans wanted to finally cash the “bad check” that the United States offered to them, in return for equality. He and his people refuse to believe that there were
“insufficient funds in the vaults of opportunity” in the U.S. They demand the riches of justice that the constitution by law offered them.
4. How does King, in his fourth paragraph, emphasize a sense of urgency?
“It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment...”
He and his people demand change now. He has “a dream today” that equality would rise up in the midst of the rubble of discrimination nationwide, and pleads for change now. He emphasized the urgency of change by using the word, “now” in a sensible and emotional way that accentuates the urgency for change on these issues. He argues that
“this is no time to.... take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism”,
or in other words, it wasn’t a time to slack off and just say that the government was “getting to it”, yet it was a time for action and that
“Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.”
Instead of sinking into the quicksands of discrimination and injustice, he pleads for the government and the entire nation to evolve and transform into a solid rock of brotherhood and work together into an equal and de-segregated, solid nation.
5. What other sections or techniques do you find persuasive?
He uses things from the constitution itself, and how lawfully, African Americans are supposed to be equal.
“Five score years ago, a great American.... signed the Emancipation Proclamation.... It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of captivity”
The Emancipation Proclamation was the law that was passed in January 1, 1863, to make slavery illegal. It made the slaves free, yet through the persuasive metaphors of King, he explains that in a way, the African Americans were still “enslaved” amongst the chains of discrimination.
Another technique that he used to make his speech more persuasive was that he added other elements that made him stand out more as a person that really knew what he was talking about. One particular element that he brought in was some emotionally religious things such as
“With this faith we will be able to work together pray together....”
and
“This will be the day when all of God’s children will be able to sing with new meaning”
Having the background of being a priest, it’s pretty obvious that things like that might slip through him subconsciously, but it shows that he not only knows the part of his political debate, but he also knows the faith of religion, which gives him the trust of those that are greatly pious.
6. King gave this essay as a speech to a mostly African American audience who had come to Washington, D.C. as part of a civil rights march. How is King’s attention to audience effective?
He talks directly to them to fight this war peacefully, instead of taking the matter in a more physical and chaotic matter. He argues, that
“In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy out thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.”
I adore what enthusiasm he has. He is telling his people to be patient and even through the hardships of the ignorance of some people, it would be best to solve this issue by seeking things out peacefully. In a way, he was scolding those that were desperate enough to break the march of peace by giving into the temptation of physical violence. He talked to his audience that the most strategic way to win this was to rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.
His words towards the audience in whom he was speaking to were very much effective, because he made them see how desperation and turmoil against all of those that are white is the same thing as the whites discriminating towards the blacks. He pleads that the Black community must not distrust all white people, as he looks around and explains how some of them actually did gather up and joined the movement and they, too, have realized that their freedom is bound to the freedom of the African Americans.
“Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back tot he slums and ghettoes of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.”
He warns that those who give up and just go home without a fight are just running away from it, knowing that they can make a difference and change their entire future. He made it seem that going back to the way things were was practically meaningless, since nothing would have been changed for the better.
7. How does King write for a larger audience at the same time that he writes for a local audience?
He dreams of the bright changes that the future could hold. He shares his dreams to his audiences, and gives them a glimpse of what the world would be like without discrimination and inequality.
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
This my favorite quote from his entire speech. He not only used the element of childhood innocence by giving an example of how they can possibly have the future of being judged for who they are interiorly, instead of being discriminated by first sight just because of the differ in their skin tone.
“The content of their character.”
This is what really hits me the most, and which probably has a big impact on most people, as well. Why, I wonder, would the exterior of a person would even matter, when the person of that exterior has no choice of being what they are? Their skin comes to them naturally by genetics, and why would something like that matter? Was the world just one big genetic lotto, that whoever is lucky enough to be white gets the most riches and rewards just because they are white?
No, that’s just plain wrong. “The content of their character” makes much more sense. This way, you would actually have hard-earned evidence of having a reason to treat someone differently. Would you treat a homicidal maniac the same as a little 5-year old boy? Obviously not. Would you treat a black man and a white man (back then) that had the same job the same? What about a white man and a white man of equal jobs? Without even analyzing their character, their insides, people back then would just automatically treat African Americans differently. They automatically assume that African Americans somehow deserve less as if they were a lower species. Aren’t we all human anyway?
King has a unique way of public speaking. In most cases of public demonstrations that generally involve the issues of the government, most public speakers would just talk about the political issues and how “a times b” isn’t as equal as “x times y”, and they get way too technical and political that the general audience doesn’t really care. The souls and morality of people aren’t easily touched by a bunch of “evidence on paper” as much as they would, if the evidence was actually used on something real. What King did, was that he used the experiences of the African Americans and explained them vividly enough for anyone that may not have gone through the same experiences as if they’re going through them while King would explain them.
He hit his nation-wide audience in various soft spots in the emotion department, and made a really big impact on the country. Those who were ignorant before became more aware of this issue, and those who were already aware of it, just became more active in helping it.
“This will be a day when all of God’s children will be able to sing with new meaning.”
Last but not least, he speaks so enthusiastically about everything that it’s hard to get bored of what he has to say. After describing with metaphors all of the issues of discrimination, he ends his speech in a positive note that ensures everyone that if they just work together, the light from the heavens would open up and bring new meaning to life.
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I am tired as a fucker. I've been writing essays and lab results and lab conclusions and finishing up my OTHER English homework on the final project for
Much Ado About Nothing for hours. Bahhhh. I need sleep, God damnit. But before I go, here's what I wrote for my other English homeowork, the one where I'm supposed to choose a scene in the play to re-write to make the play into a TRAGEDY instead of a COMEDY. For those that haven't read
Much Ado About Nothing will have no fucking idea what I'm talking about while writing this assignment, so I wouldn't even bother reading it.
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A Scene Re-Written
Act 5 Scene 2
Leonato’s Garden
(Skipping the conversation with Margaret and Benedick)
[Enter Beatrice]
Benedick: Beatrice! Did you come because I asked for you to come?
Beatrice: Yes, and leave when you tell me.
Benedick: Please stay until then.
Beatrice: All is said: I’m leaving now, and before I go, let me go how I came, which is, knowing that you don’t want to deal with Claudio.
Benedick: That’s not yet true! Please stay, and let me kiss you.
Beatrice: Truth is only what truth has yet been, and you have yet dealt with that coward. With that, I will leave un-kissed.
Benedick: You have it all wrong and your wit is faced towards the wrong person: Understand that I have already challenged Claudio, and either he responds accepting my challenge, or he will forever be known as a coward and only a coward. Until then, tell me now, which bad parts of my bad parts made you first fall in love with me?
Beatrice: The only thing I can think of is that there is no good part in you that will ever fuse with anything good, thus you haven’t any for me to fall in love with. When did you first start to feel love for me?
Benedick: Fall in love! With you? Well, I suppose I do feel some suffer in the department of entrapment, for I do it against my will.
Beatrice: Since you spite love for me, I shall return the favor, but only out of more spite.
Benedick: The two of us are way too smart to love peaceably. Now tell me, how is your cousin doing?
Beatrice: Not so good.
Benedick: And you?
Beatrice: Not much better.
Benedick: Mend yourself and love me.
[Enter Ursula]
Ursula: Sir Benedick, Claudio is here to see you.
Beatrice: Alas! The moment I have been eagerly waiting for. Benedick, are you ready?
Benedick: Always ready to serve you, Madam.
[Exit all]
Act 5 Scene 3
Outside of Leonato’s House
[Enter Claudio, Benedick and Beatrice]
Claudio: Ah, friends! I have come to tell you that—
Beatrice: To tell us what? To tell us that you wish for Hero’s innocent head?
Claudio: What? No, no you misunderstand—
Benedick: Misunderstand what? That you have come here to declare yourself a coward and run away from a duel? There is nothing to misunderstand about your cowardice, unless you really are here to accept my challenge.
Claudio: Neither! I have come to make peace, for I finally know the truth. There is nothing to duel about, kind sir. I finally know of Hero’s—
Beatrice: You lie. Benedick, if you do not draw your scabbard sometime soon, I shall do it for you. Claudio is clearly making up an excuse not to fight you and to pose as a non-coward at the same time. It’s time you finish off this maiden killer.
Claudio: Please hear me out.
Benedick: I have been patient with you. There is nothing to hear out, so therefore I shall draw my weapon. Have you brought yourself a sword, or do you acquire the need for one?
Claudio: The two of you are being too headstrong for this. Please, just give me a second to explain what has just happened here. Just give me one sec—
Benedick: Your second is up. On guard!
Benedick draws his sword
Claudio: There really is no way to get through to you but to play with your rules, is there? Well, if a duel is what it takes to get you to listen to me, then a duel it is. Just remember that from this point to the point of severe injury, we are no longer friends.
Benedick: And also know that I plan on not only injuring you. You deserve to meet the same faith as the maiden they call Hero. For her sweet revenge and for my love, my only Beatrice!
Beatrice: Oh, if only I were a man. I would love to have the opportunity to clear my dear cousin’s name. Alas, I have my only love to turn to. I pray to God that thou shall win this battle, for I shall cry for an eternity in vain if I lost you. I have already lost a cousin.
[Enter Leonato and Don Pedro]
Benedick: Die, fiend!
Benedick brutally stabs Claudio at the center of his chest, causing a fatal wound
Leonato: What is going on here?
Don Pedro: Claudio! Holy merciful God, Benedick, what have you done?
Beatrice: He hath done the only right thing to do! And eye for an eye.
Benedick: Yea, and it’s not long until he’s dead. Leonato, have you come to congratulate me of my victory?
Leonato: VICTORY? Do you mean felony? He came here to tell you and my niece, Beatrice to gather to Hero’s monument where her body lies so that he could apologize! What have you done... what in God’s Earth have you done.
Benedick: I don’t understand.
Don Pedro: Well understand this: we may be friends, but this is something I cannot look over on. You cannot get away with this, even if ‘twere a misunderstanding.
Leonato: My poor future son-in-law! I can assure you now that Hero will really die now, since her one and only true love is dead.
Beatrice: Oh, Claudio! I am so sorry, please forgive Benedick for his crime.
Benedick: Forgive me? You were the one that practically forced me to kill him! I only did it to prove my love for you.
Beatrice: I thought all your love was out of spite. And I take everything I said back, I would never love you, even if it were out of spite. I would rather love a dog than a stray mutt of rancor love.
Benedick: Fine, I never really loved you anyway. I only said I did because I thought I was going to die and it would have been nice leaving this Earth knowing I loved at least once. Honestly, it was all a lie. Everything was. But don’t you dare think you’re getting away with this. You did half the killing.
Leonato: How so? We saw you stab Claudio, not Beatrice.
Benedick: Beatrice, have some last pride in you and tell him the truth!
Beatrice: Truth? The only truth is the truth of your weapon ripping through the body of sweet Claudio. Oh woe is me, all of this horror is making me light-headed. Please excuse me, uncle, your highness. I will be in my room if you need me.
Benedick: Traitor.
Beatrice:
(whispering to Benedick) At least I’m a smart traitor. Farewell.
[Exit Beatrice]
Reason And Explanation
The reason I chose to re-write the play like this is to make the play a tragic one. Both of the two main themes were twisted into a way that gives the play a very tragic end. The first theme was the whole plot between Don John and his henchmen—the mischievous plot to break up Hero and Claudio. In the original play, after all of the drama in their first wedding, they still end up being together. In my version, however, Claudio dies and Hero will most likely die (for the second time) from grief and sadness. The second main theme that I distorted was the whole war of wit with Beatrice and Benedick. In the beginning of the play, they would quarrel with each other without the interest of love in each other and without the awareness of going too far with their words. Although, when they fell in love, their little quarrels would usually just be for fun in wit and good humor. Although, in the scene that I changed, after the fact that Benedick kills Claudio, Beatrice ultimately went back to her old ways and ditched Benedick in a way that deceived Don Pedro and Leonato that she had nothing to do with his murder.
The future scenes of my version of this play would most likely be the second death of Hero, where Hero might even go as far as killing herself, for real and not for pretend. Another scene would be of Don John, laughing himself to a schizophrenic degree for the fact that his evil plot succeeded. His arrest will be less unlikely.
Suffering from Hero’s death, Leonato will probably kill himself also. He would have the guilt of accusing his only daughter of treachery and helping cause her first death, that he might blame himself for causing her second death.
Out of the subject of death and yet to more tragedy, the good-willed plan of Don Pedro to get Beatrice and Benedick together obviously self-destructed in its own. If it weren’t for Beatrice’s willingness to kill Claudio, this play would have had a happy ending. Alas, Beatrice just had to have her revenge for her dear cousin. In return for vengeance, came to Benedick’s capture and/or beheading. Beatrice refused to admit to the truth that it was her who made Benedick challenge Claudio in the duel, therefore leaving Benedick as the scapegoat. Soon to be, a dead scapegoat.
Don Pedro will be traumatized for having lost his two best friends. But not to a degree that will drive him to kill himself, so he’ll probably just take some counseling. The possibility of him getting married would be less likely, after seeing the backlash of love between Claudio and Hero, and between Benedick and Beatrice.
Personally, I would like this play better as a tragedy than a comedy. Even if the whole “death of love” thing was already used in the play, Romeo and Juliet, I think this play would have been more interesting if it had all of the turns and zigzags in the plot. Plus, I loved the fiendish role that Don John played. I wished there were more scenes of him being evil than more of the lovey-dovey scenes of the two couples.
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With the help of my front page title and the double space paragraph, this project came out to be 6 pages long. I didn't make the script [play part] of my project 1.5 or double spaced, because it would probably look kind of wierd on my paper. I did, however, made my "Explanation" page double spaced. I forgot what I wrote thus far on this, it's late, my butt hurts from all this sitting, so I won't even bother making my commentary on my work here, on my Blogger. I can't even tell if I'm making sense right now, since I'm so fucking tired. I'll correct any grammar or mispellings tommorow after school. Too tired now... so much writing... my fingers are cramping up and my eyes are starting to twitch. AHHHHHHHH HOLY CRAP!!
x_o;
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