Passage from I Have a Dream speech (1963):

Question

"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."

Which of the following statements best analyzes Martin Luther King Jr.'s purpose in using the imagery of valleys, hills, rough places, and crooked places in this passage?

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King is suggesting that the path to equality will be difficult, requiring constant struggle, and that the outcome is uncertain.
King uses the imagery to symbolize the removal of societal inequalities, suggesting that the future holds a just society where barriers to equality and justice are eradicated.
King uses the imagery to illustrate the idea that achieving equality will involve removing physical obstacles, implying that social justice requires physical changes to the environment.
King uses the imagery to criticize the government’s physical infrastructure, implying that economic justice will be achieved through new construction and urban development.

Answer 1

The best analysis of Martin Luther King Jr.'s purpose in using the imagery of valleys, hills, rough places, and crooked places in this passage is:

King uses the imagery to symbolize the removal of societal inequalities, suggesting that the future holds a just society where barriers to equality and justice are eradicated.

This interpretation captures the essence of King's vision for a future in which obstacles to equality, both literal and metaphorical, are addressed, leading to a society where justice is achievable for all.