Summary:
Martin Luther King Jr's words have already lived far past him and will continue to honor his fight for equality forever. When Nelson Mandela is no longer with us, his masterful words will also stay in the minds and hearts of many, and will be passed on from generation to generation.
Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela were prominent men in the fight for civil rights and made speeches that were, and still are, influential and monumental. King was a Baptist minister who pushed for racial equality and organized many non-violent protests. On a march in Washington, D.C., he delivered a speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to the many protesters of the segregation and unjust treatment of African Americans. Nelson Mandela also worked for equal rights, even having been imprisoned for a number of years, but mainly fought to end aparteid in Africa. He addressed both the people of Africa and the world when he delivered a speech at his African presidential inauguration. King's and Mandela's oratories were extraordinary literary creations.
Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech was a masterpiece not only in the Civil Rights Movement, but with respect to all literature. The literary concepts included in the text efficiently appealed to the masses of people who came to hear him speak. He used many subtle references to events which gave his oration a certain emotional depth. Historical events that are referred to include meetings of the Ku Klux Klan at Stone Mountain in Georgia and at Lookout Mountain in Tennessee. In King's speech there are phrases that are repeated such as "I have a dream" and "Let freedom ring" that give the text a melodic quality. This melodic rythmn helps to keep the listeners' attention on the speech and the important issues at hand. Metaphors like "on a lonely island of poverty" and "whirlwinds of revolt" helped King to convey his point strongly and effectively. Even though Martin Luther King Jr. Is an awe-inspiring orator, his speech would not have been as effective if he had not used such genius literary elements.
One of the most impressive inaugural oratories Africa has ever encountered was Nelson Mandela's. This speech gained him great respect, even more than he had already earned, because of its pleasing contents. Included in his speech were phrases such as "intimately attached to the soil of this beautiful country" and "each time one of us touches the soil of this land, we feel a sense of personal renewal" that induce a warmly patriotic feeling about the country. Mandela impresses upon the people that he is grateful for how far the nation has come, and that he wishes for it to continue to exercise and improve the rights of all. The repetition of "Let there be..." further exemplifies his desire to improve Africa's standing and introduces a pleasing tone to the speech. All in all Nelson Mandela's speech is heartening and hope inspiring.
A person's impressive words often far outlive them and are celebrated constantly. Martin Luther King Jr's words have already lived far past him and will continue to honor his fight for equality forever. When Nelson Mandela is no longer with us, his masterful words will also stay in the minds and hearts of many, and will be passed on from generation to generation. Their speeches will always be recognized as two of the most heartfelt, ingenious literary monuments of their time. Kind and Mandela have created a permanent place in history for themselves that is not simple to obtain.
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