Comparative Analysis of political speeches “I Have a Dream” by Martin Luther King, Jr. and "The inaugural speech" by the 44th US president Barack Obama

Elmira Babaeva,

Teacher of the English language

Comparative Analysis

            The texts under analysis are two well-known speeches - “I Have a Dream”, delivered by a leader of American Civil Rights Movement Martin Luther King, Jr., and the inaugural speech of the 44^th US president, Barack Obama.

            Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American clergyman, activist, and leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for his role in the advancement of civil rights using nonviolent civil disobedience. King has become a national icon in the history of American progressivism. "I Have a Dream" was delivered on August 28, 1963, in which King called for an end to racism in the United States and described his dreams of freedom and equality arising from a land of slavery and hatred. Delivered to over two hundred thousand civil rights supporters, the speech is often considered to be one of the greatest and most notable speeches in history. The speech was ranked the top American speech of the 20th century by a 1999 poll of scholars of public address.

            Barack Obama is the 44th and current President of the United States, the first African American to hold the office. He is a graduate of Columbia University and Harvard Law School, where he was president of the Harvard Law Review. He moved to Chicago, where he served as a community organizer and lectured in constitutional law at the University of Chicago before he was elected (1996) to the Illinois Senate as a member of the Democratic Party. In 2004 he was elected to the U.S. Senate and quickly became a major national political figure. In 2008 Obama won an upset victory over former U.S. first lady Hillary Clinton to become the Democratic presidential nominee. He easily defeated Republican candidate John McCain and became the first African American president. In 2009 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples. A central theme of President Obama's inaugural address was a call to restore responsibility—both in terms of accountability in Washington and the responsibility of ordinary people to get involved. Obama's address did not have memorable sound bite phrases. Instead, he used traditional references to connect his new administration with the nation's history in a speech that was understated deliberately. Obama's inaugural address received mixed reviews, with some describing the tone of the speech a praiseworthy one of restraint and plain speaking, while others described the speech as low-brow and cliched.

            The speeches under analysis belong to the publicistic style and  its spoken variety, namely, the oratorical sub-style.

            The general aim of publicistic style, which makes it stand out as a separate style, is to exert a constant and deep influence on public opinion, to convince the reader or the listener that the interpretation given by the writer or the speaker is the only correct one and to cause him to accept the point of view expressed in the speech, essay or article not merely through logical argumentation but through emotional appeal as well.

            The oratorical style of language is the oral subdivision of the publicistic style. The oratorical style belongs to the written variety of language, though it is modified by the oral form of the utterance and the use of gestures. This style is evident in speeches on political and social problems of the day, in orations and addresses on solemn occasions, as public weddings, funerals and jubilees, in sermons and debates and also in the speeches of counsel and judges in courts of law.

            Therefore, the purposes of the comparative analysis are the following ones:

-          to dwell upon the peculiarities of each speech,

-          to trace their similarity and difference.

The Conceptual level

            Dwelling upon the conceptual level of a speech, one should reveal certain simillar or different ideas employed by the speakers.

            As for the ideas in Martin Luther King’s speech, we can say that they reflect King's social experiences of the mistreatment of blacks. The speech draws upon appeals to America's myths as a nation founded to provide freedom and justice to all people, and then reinforces and transcends those secular mythologies by placing them within a spiritual context by arguing that racial justice is also in accord with God's will. Thus, the rhetoric of the speech provides redemption to America for its racial sins. King describes the promises made by America as a "promissory note" on which America has defaulted. He says that "America has given the Negro people a bad check", but that "we've come to cash this check" by marching in Washington, D.C. The key message in this speech is that all people are created equal and, although not the case in America at the time, King felt it must be the case for the future and called for an action to change the situation..

            As Barack Obama’s inaugural speech is concerned, one can state that a central theme of President Obama's inaugural address was a call to restore responsibility—both in terms of accountability in Washington and the responsibility of ordinary people to get involved. Some ideas delivered in Obama’s speech seems to be controdictory to some extent. He states that the world is in extreme crisis and that tough choices and sacrifices would have to be made by all, but he also  expresses extreme optimism that problems could be solved. He criticizes old ideologies that idolized free markets as infallible, and yet expresses his core belief in capitalism. Obama focuses on painting a broad picture of the human condition at the moment and what his general approaches would be. On the one hand, he's not afraid to suggest that these radical times will require radical solutions, and, on the other hand, he is as mainstream, moderate and reassuring as they come. Obama also highlights the United States' religious diversity, referring to the country's "patchwork heritage" as a strength and saying, "We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus and non-believers."

            To some extent it seems like the key elements of the dreams and changes in both speeches are related to statistics of socio-economic and political values, education, employment rates and housing in black America today.

           A certain similarity in ideas can be traced in the following lines of both speeches:

“ … I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slaveowners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day right down in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers…“ (King) and “ This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed - why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.” (Obama).

           As for me, I presume that it is unfair to compare these two speeches and people who delivered them. Firstly, Martin Luther King was the leader of a progressive social movement, while Barack Obama is a president. Therefore, the aims of their speeches were different. If King was trying to point at the difficulties and injustice of the moment once and for all, therefore calling people to change the situation that surrounded them and to teach people to work together, Obama, possibly focused on the need for change too, but he sought more to reassure Americans that he would operate as President within the margins of the nation's traditions. However, I can not deny the fact that he wholeheartedly gropes toward better and fairer solutions for his nation as well.

The Intertextual level

            The intertextual level is aimed at tracing some allusions and references to an event, a well-known person, a place, a literary work, a myth, or a work of art.

            In the speeches one can notice that the speakers appeal to such sources as the Bible, the United States Declaration of Independence, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the United States Constitution.

            Firstly, Martin Luther King in his speech lays certain emphasis on some Biblical allusions ( Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.; No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.; Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.).

Obama also makes use of Biblical allusions such as the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness, which is at the same time can be considered as the allusion to the US Constitution.; …but in the words of Scripture… .

             Secondly, in King’s speech one also comes across the following examples of the periphrasis: the architects of our republic – allusion to the writers of the Declaration of Independence, and other allusions such as This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality, being the allusion to opening lines of W.Shakespeare’s “Richard III” and Steinbeck, “We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. we must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.” – the allusion to Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.” – the allusion to  a recitation of the first verse of Samuel Francis Smith's popular patriotic hymn "America" (My Country ’Tis of Thee),” …a table of brotherhood...”. - the round table of King Arthur is meant, “…that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics…” -  the song of slaves working in the fields.          

              In Obama’s speech one can trace the following examples of allusions and periphrasis: We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things – the allusion to St. Paul’s speech “Corithians”, some historical allusions to wars (Concord – the war of Independence, Gyttysburg – the Civil War, Normandy – the II World War, Khe Sanh – the Vietnam War), “Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America” - the allusion to superhero, “We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.” – the examples of the periphrasis, meaning the ancestors and such documents as The US Constitution, the Declaration of Independence. “ … our founding fathers …”- the  allusion to the writers of the Declaration of Independence., “…the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people …”- the allusion to George Washington, the first president of the USA, “ … patchwork heritage…” – historical reference to “a melting pot”, “…heroes who lie in Arlington….” - historical reference to the soldiers, “…the bitter swill of civil war and segregation…”- historical allusion, “In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words.” - “Richard III” by W.Shakespeare  and  ‘The Winter of Our Discontent’ by J. Steinbeck), “…who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom..” - the hymn.

            Thus,  both speeches are rich in allusions, periphrases and references.

            Now we should dwell upon lexical, lexico-syntactical and syntactical levels to trace some expressive means and stylistic devices, employed by the authors.

Lexical level

            Fist of all, on the lexical level some examples of metaphors, metonymy, metaphtonymy, semantic doublets/ triplets can be traced in both speeches.

            Martin Luther King makes a great use of metaphors of nature in his speech. For example, a lonely island of poverty, a vast ocean of material prosperity,desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice, now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksand., the whirlwinds of revolt, justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream, storms of persecution, the winds of police brutality, an oasis of freedom and justice, to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope.

            In Obama’s speech such metaphors are also used, for example,  still waters of peace, gathering clouds,icy currents, raging storms.

            One may observe a great number of other types of metaphor in both speeches such as “…but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist…” – the extended metaphor in Obama’s speech, “…it has not been the path for  the faint-hearted …; … we refused to let this journey end… ” – the cognitive metaphor Life is a journey in Obama’s speech, “…the manacles of segregation, some of you have come fresh from narrow cells…” and “…to our nation’s capital to cash a check, the bank of justice, vaults of opportunity, the riches of freedom…” - the metaphors of prison and of economics in M.L.King’s speech, “…the tranquillizing drug of gradualism…” and “…he palace of justice…” – the metaphors of medicine and of architecture in King’s speech.

          Thus, we can say that Martin Luther Kings made use of metaphors more frequently and of more serious ones and his speech is more emotional.

         Obama’s speech is rich in some other lexical expressibe means and stylistic devices such as metonymy (“…to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds…”), metaphtonymy  (“…without a watchful eye…”), semantic doublets    (“…petty grievances and false promises…”,”… Concord and Gettysburg, Normandy and Khe Sanh…”,  “…missiles and tanks…”, “…the sturdy alliances and enduring convictions…”, “…language and culture…”, “…civil war and segregation…”,”… the faith and determination…”, “…honesty and hard work…”, “…courage and fair play…”, “…tolerance and curiosity…”,”… every race and every faith…”,”… hope and virtue…”), hyperbole (to extend opportunity to every willing heart, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the spectre of a warming planet), irony (“…We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remarking America.”). In his speech we can also find an example of gradation – “ … Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year.”

Lexico-syntactical level

          As for the lexico-syntactical level of the analysis, there is not many stylistic devises to be traced in the speeches. One of the most prominent ones used in both speeches is the periphrasis. The examples of which were discussed above.

 Syntactical level

         As for the syntactical level,  first of all, one can observe a number of repetitions and parallel constructions in both speeches. The repetitions used by King play an important role in emphasizing his ideas. For example, in King’s speech one can trace the following examples: “… I have a dream that one day…” – to show his hopes toward the future ;  “ … We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. …  We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities…”; “…Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to Georgia…”; “…One hundred years later we must face the tragic fact that the Negro is still not free…  One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of the vast ocean material prosperity. … One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land.” – to emphasize that after such a long period of time there is still no change ; “…Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to open the doors of opportunity to all of God's children. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.…" -  to show the urgency of the moment to change the racial situation in the country. Emphasis on repetitions make his speech more notable and memorable and enhanced.

          In Obama’s speech one can also come across repetitions with anaphoric beginning: “ … Our nation is at war… Our economy is badly weakened… Our healthcare is too costly; our schools fail too many…”; “…On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord. On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises…”; “…For us, they packed up… For us, the toiled in sweatshops… For us, they fought and died…”.  

          Secondly, in both speeches one can observe the examples of the usage of modal verb shall to  make the promises and hopes more effective and plausible. In King’s speech: “… We must make the pledge that we shall march ahead…”; “.. I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.”. In Obama’s speech: “…the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve, that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself …”. The next example expressed the promise as well  “ … We pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish…”.

        Thirdly, one may observe asyndeton in Obama’s speech: “ … Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint. “ One can also come across the example of  anadiplosis in his speech: “… And yet, at this moment - a moment that will define a generation - it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all …”  - to emphasize the definite moment he was speaking about.  Emphatic constructions and direct adress are also used in Obama’s speech:  “ … What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we …” and “ … we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals, …we can scarcely imagine, we will act, we will build the roads, we will restore science, we will transform our schools, But know this, America – they will be met.”.

        Next, King in his speech made use of many words with positive and negative connotations to contrast the racial situation in the country in the past and present and to what he hoped it would be in the future. For example, words with negative connotation such as  "captivity," "poverty," "exile," "persecution", "despair" - to describe the lives of African-Americans, and the words with positive connotation such as "hope", "freedom", "justice", 'faith" – emphasize that the hope for future changes.

Structural level

          As for the structural level, it should be revealed in the logic of the speech and the following structure should be traced in an oratorical speech:

-          problem,

-          solutions or possible ways out  to the problem described,

-          hope or belief of a speaker in bright future.

          Analysing King’s speech it is clear that all these elements are present in his speech. As for the Obama’s speech, there are a lot of ideas expressed by the author, but unfortunately, no sollutions or hopes can be traced. His speech sounds more like a praise of his country and promises that the president is intended to fulfill.

           Therefore, in conclusion, taking into consideration everything analyzed above, we can say that both speeches coincide in many features – EM and SD, ideas. However, although Obama and King use some similar devices, these speeches are different. But I assume that King’s speech is more sincere, honest and frankly. It seems like while delivering this speech, he directly and fully connected with them and it had a great and inspiring impact. Obama’s speech is not sincere enough, as he did not feel it through. It sounds more like a political cliché in some parts.