The nineteenth and twentieth century were both times when social injustice was a problem in the United States. Several groups were being discriminated and there were a lot of activists fighting for equal rights. Some examples are “The Hope Speech” by Harvey Milk and Resistance to Civil Government by Henry David Thoreau.
“The Hope Speech” by Harvey Milk and Resistance to Civil Government by Henry David Thoreau are both fighting against social injustice however they are not from the same time period and use different stylistic devices to convey their message.
One of the ways “The Hope Speech” and Resistance to Civil Government show social injustice is by fighting for what they believe is right. However, they do not fight for the same things. In “The Hope Speech”, Milk says that you should fight for what’s right and that everyone should be given a chance to do what they want to do in life. In Resistance to Civil Government, Thoreau believes that the citizens should do what they believe is right even if that means going against the government. However, they were both written at a very different time period. Harvey Milk delivered his speech in 1977 compared to Thoreau who wrote the essay during the transcendentalism era in the 1840s. The texts were written because social injustice was an issue. Milk delivered “The Hope Speech” because of gay people. Thoreau wrote the essay because of slavery. Nevertheless, they were both written at a time when social injustice was an issue in the country and it is understood why the authors wrote them in the first place.
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Another way “The Hope Speech” and Resistance to Civil Government show social injustice is by using the methods of rhetoric. Both authors use all three methods of rhetoric in their work. However, both “The Hope Speech” and Resistance to Civil Government use logos the most. In “The Hope Speech”, Milk says, “That the myths against blacks can only be dispelled by electing black leaders, so the black community could be judged by the leaders and not by the myths or black criminals. The Spanish community must not be judged by Latin criminals or myths. The Asian community must not be judged by Asian criminals or myths. The Italian community must not be judged by the mafia, myths.
And the time has come when the gay community must not be judged by our criminals and myths (Milk).” Milk uses logos by comparing gay people to other groups who were judged. Milk is telling the audience that people shouldn’t be judged based on their stereotypes. People shouldn’t be biased too other groups based on stereotypes. Everybody deserves to be treated equally and be respected. Milk is comparing gay people to other groups that were judged to help convey his idea of “hope”.
In Resistance to Civil Government, Thoreau writes, “The objections which have been brought against a standing army, and they are many and weighty, and deserve to prevail, may also at last be brought against a standing government (Thoreau249).” Thoreau is comparing the government to a standing army. Thoreau is saying that is the Constitution states that using a standing army during times of peace is illegal then the government should be illegal as well. Thoreau is using logos to prove his opinion that the government is useless and is just using its citizens.
Finally, “The Hope Speech” and Resistance to Civil Government show social injustice are their uses of stylistic devices. Both of them use literary devices like similes, metaphors or imagery. However, the most significant stylistic device in “The Hope Speech” is repetition while in Resistance to Civil Government it is an allusion. In “The Hope Speech”, Milk says, “Hope for a better world, hope for a better tomorrow, hope for a better place to come to if the pressures at home are too great. Hope that all will be all right (Milk).” Milk is repeating the word “hope” in the speech. Milk is emphasizing the word “hope” to his audience. Milk is saying that hope is needed and that anything can be done with hope. Milk tries to convince his audience to give hope to others.
In Resistance to Civil Government, the most significant stylistic device is an allusion. Thoreau writes, “Why does it always crucify Christ, and excommunicate Copernicus and Luther, and pronounce Washington and Franklin rebels (Thoreau251)?” Thoreau is referring to other times in history where people have created unjust laws that resulted in tragedy and violence. Thoreau wants more people to have an opinion and act on unjust laws. Thoreau is asking himself this question in order to convey that unjust laws are immoral and that citizens need to respond to them.
