The World House, Essay Example

In this essay, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. discusses his personal observations on what he refers to as a “World House” or a global community as opposed to separate nations and/or groups of people living in a nationalistic state. Dr. King is basically arguing that all human beings must learn to live together as a global community despite differences in race, nationality, creed, or religious beliefs and practices, and that if this cannot be achieved, then mankind is doomed to extinction through cultural conflict and war.

Dr. King also stresses the idea that racism, poverty, the never-ending struggle for material goods in a capitalistic society such as in the United States, and military conflict are the main threats to world peace and prosperity and to the continuation of the human race on planet Earth. Part of Dr. King’s argument relates how technology has made it much easier for mankind to destroy himself and the planet on which he lives. Overall, Dr. King is attempting to point out that if human beings do not change the way they live and fail to accept each other on equal ground, then mankind will eventually destroy itself, either through armed conflict or runaway technology.

This essay could be described as a narrative that attempts to persuade its audience into accepting the opinions and viewpoints of the author/speaker, in this case Dr. King. It is also a type of exposition supported by facts, figures, and relevant data. However, it is also a lecture given by Dr. King in 1964 for his acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize. Therefore, one could say that this essay is an acceptance speech that reflects Dr. King’s personal opinions and how he viewed the world in 1964 when the Cold War was at its height.