Martin Luther King’s Psychological Portrait

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Table of Contents

Psychoanalytic Criticism
Pessimistic Prophet
Race as the Central Theme
King’s Pessimism
King’s Symbolism
Identified Psychological Traits
Conclusion
Works Cited

Martin Luther King is one of the most prominent figures in the history of the United States who had a profound impact on the development of the country. His speeches made many people determined to start or continue fighting for their rights and true justice in the society that claimed to be democratic. For many, those were something bigger than speeches as they were sermons similar to the ones that were uttered almost two thousand years before King (Johnson and Stone 10).

Due to the strengths and impact of his ideas, Reverend Martin Luther King is often seen as a prophet of the 1960s. Many people thought that King was an optimist who believed in the rapid change and the reign of equality. However, some researchers argue that the last years of his life were marked by pessimism and the focus on racial discrimination. This paper is aimed at the description of some psychological traits (pessimism and attention to race) of Martin Luther King based on his last sermon.

Psychoanalytic Criticism

First, it is necessary to note that the psychological analysis of a written piece is an effective way to develop a psychological portrait of a person or single out some characteristic features. Psychoanalytic criticism was a common framework employed to analyze literary works in the 1960s. Benyei states that this paradigm can be an effective tool due to its ability to “bring up close such mechanisms of the human soul” that cannot be examined in other ways (69).

Text interpretation is the basic instrument of the psychoanalytic analysis, and the concepts developed by Sigmund Freud are utilized. The famous professor noted that texts had to be analyzed with reference to the author’s life (Benyei 73). It is also possible to explore the environment and major trends that persist in the society. All these factors affect people’s psyche so they can be traced in their works.

Pessimistic Prophet

Johnson and Stone claim that Martin Luther King was a pessimistic prophet during the last years of his life (13). The authors explain that pessimistic prophecy is deeply rooted in the notion of African American prophetic culture. Johnson and Stone stress that African Americans’ view of the figure of a prophet differs considerably from that of White Americans (12). The role of the Black prophet was to lament and give voice to other people who could hardly express their sorrow and grief.

The prophet was to “chronicle the sufferings” of those oppressed (Johnson and Stone 13). King was that kind of leader who chronicled the hardships of the poor, but he still concentrated on the experiences of African Americans even though many believed his effort was colorblind. Pessimism is apparent in his speech as well as his focus on race is.

This analysis is based on the interpretation of the sermon with the view of King’s life and the world around him. As mentioned above, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” is the last sermon King delivered as the very next day he was assassinated (Johnson and Stone 8).

It is necessary to note that this attack was not a surprise for anyone as King had survived another serious attempt when he was almost killed to death. The activist mentioned this case in his last sermon, which can be regarded as one of the signs of his adoption of the principles of prophetic pessimism. A considerable proportion of the speech in question is devoted to the event that almost cost him his life. He stressed that he had almost crossed the line, but he was grateful that he had not. This part of the speech is specifically illustrative in terms of King’s focus on race and his pessimistic perspective concerning his own future.

Race as the Central Theme

When he was talking about his near-death experience, he mentioned the letter from a white girl who expressed her support. King cited the part when the girl wrote, “While it should not matter, I would like to mention that I’m a white girl” (qtd. in King). This part could have been omitted, but the preacher chose to keep this sentence, which shows his own attitude towards the issues related to race. Although he stressed that people of different colors are oppressed and are prone to unfair treatment, King had African Americans in mind. Some people have seen Martin Luther King as “a warrior against war and global poverty” (Davis 46).

He was against the war in Vietnam and tried to affect policymakers to change their unjust efforts to oppress people living across the ocean. Nevertheless, he still drew a line between Blacks and Whites. In his speech, King put quite a straightforward question, “What would happen to me from some of our sick white brothers?” (King). It is apparent that the activist associated threats with white people only and could not even imagine that an African American could harm him.

The fact that he was race-sensitive more than many may think is illustrated in the first part of the speech where King encouraged African Americans to support Black communities and business. The refusal to buy from certain retailers aimed at showing those people and the Black community’s attitude towards unfair practices. The preacher proclaimed the start of “the process of building a greater economic base,” and putting pressure where it really hurts” was a way to achieve their goals (King). It is necessary to add that King did not proclaim the supremacy of Black people like other activists of his time did, but he was conscious about race. He was not a completely colorblind individual but tried to make the life of African Americans better.

In his speech, King mentioned two camps where White people and Black people were in a continuous opposition. The activist did not refer to working people, women, or immigrants, but he stressed the gap between the black and white society in the United States. King did not put to the fore such concepts as class or ethnicity but concentrated on race contemplating over the wellbeing of “the American Negro collectively” (King). Of course, the speech is written to appeal to a certain audience, but it still shows the speaker’s major agenda. King did not address some general issues such as poverty or sorrows of new immigrants. He was quite explicit about the people he fought for. In this way, the activist expressed his views regarding some of the primary reasons for the flaws of the American society.

King’s Pessimism

As far as King’s pessimism is concerned, it is also quite evident from the text of the sermon. The concluding remarks are the most exemplary in this respect. When he mentioned the threats and the possibility of death, the pessimistic prophet repeatedly uttered, “it doesn’t matter, now” and “I don’t mind” (King). He seemed to be aware of the fact that he would not live a long life although he stressed, “Longevity has its place” (King).

Importantly, the preacher who had always emphasized the need to use peaceful ways to achieve one’s goals acknowledged the power of violence. He did not say it explicitly, but it is clear that he believed that violence could stop the fight of individuals. At the end of his speech, Martin Luther King said that there were chances he would not see a better society in his lifetime meaning that he could be killed. His pessimism is manifested in his belief that he had no future.

His attitude towards violence is another important aspect related to the evolution of his personality. As mentioned above, many people still argue that King was famous for his commitment to nonviolent ways of protest. Patel, for instance, states that King saw “the rooms of love and nonviolence in the house of faith within him” (275). The author also claims that this paradigm was based on King’s religious beliefs and his fascination with Gandhi’s teachings.

The search for nonviolent means is still traceable in the sermon under study, but violence is also apparent. While King saw nonviolence as the tool for activists, he also believed that others would use violent acts to stop the changes. King’s mentioning of the attempts to kill him that had taken place and were likely to happen again shows that the activist did not believe in a peaceful future of the nation.

King’s pessimism extends the boundaries of his private life to mean the endlessness and hopelessness of people’s fight against the societal flaws. Johnson and Stone emphasize that pessimistic prophecy is characterized by such views since prophets do not promise a better future but concentrate on the wrongs of their contemporaries (14). Surprisingly, this approach has a proactive impact on people who stand up to the system and start their fight. It is necessary to add that King stressed that nonviolence is the key to their success as there is “nonviolence or nonexistence” (King). However, his speech reveals his controversial attitude towards his own manifesto.

King’s Symbolism

It is necessary to analyze the symbolism in the sermon to locate the controversy. For instance, in his speech, the renowned activist mentioned Pharaoh and slavery in Egypt (King). The preacher claimed that unity would help Black people just the way it had worked for the Jews. He focused on the need to remain united and act as one body helping each other. However, King did not include in his address other ways Moses and his people had used to break free.

Of course, he knew that many Egyptians had suffered from the Plagues of Egypt including the loss of their children, the most horrible price they had had to pay. Therefore, Exodus could hardly be seen as a result of the peaceful struggle of the people of Jerusalem. This omission may show King’s actual ideas, the thoughts he could fear and try to suppress. It could also signify his being doubtful as to the rightfulness of his teachings and beliefs.

Another important symbol recurrent in the speech is the idea of the Promised Land. King saw and presented the future of the United States and African Americans in that country as the Biblical Promised Land. The allusion is quite trivial as it was the country of eternal happiness God promised to the Jews. African Americans also strived for the country where equality was real not proclaimed. This was regarded as eternal happiness for the people who listened to Martin Luther King in 1968. Reverend Martin Luther King alludes to Moses who saw that beautiful heaven but did not live to enter the blessed territories. Likewise, King claimed he also saw a beautiful country ahead, but he was likely to expect his untimely death.

Identified Psychological Traits

Based on this brief analysis, it is possible to identify some of the psychological traits revealed in the famous speech “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop.” Martin Luther King was a pessimistic prophet who was unsure about the effectiveness of nonviolence anymore and was expecting his death to come. The man still called for action and encouraged people to continue their struggle, but he also envisioned many hardships ahead. The theme of fear is quite recurrent in the speech, which may show the activist’s perspective regarding this emotion.

King repeated throughout his speech that he was not afraid, but it seems that he did not overcome his fears but became weary of them. He was tired of being afraid, but he was still strong enough to fight. Although many think that King became less concerned with race and concentrated on poverty and other social issues, the analysis of the speech shows that he focused on the fight for the rights of African Americans.

It is also necessary to stress that the psychological analysis provides insights into the activist’s psyche. The symbols he incorporated unveil the sphere of his unconscious as well. Although he did not pronounce it, King associated their fight with violence. It is noteworthy that violence was the tool that could be employed by both Whites and Blacks. Although King stressed his commitment to nonviolence, he unconsciously believed that violence would occur in the future.

He could see that the flaws of the system would not allow nonviolent acts to free people. King could expect (without admitting or even knowing it) that White America would have to go through the same plagues that were sent to Egypt. As far as his private life, the prominent activist was likely to foresee his approaching death, and those ideas made him feel tired and desperate. He seemed to know that he would not live in the promised land even if he managed to see it from the mountaintop.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is necessary to note that the psychoanalytical analysis of Martin Luther King’s speech can help to unveil some features of his character. His address reveals his doubts and pessimism that proved to be instrumental in facilitating African Americans’ fight for their rights. The man was also overwhelmed with thoughts concerning life and possible death. He survived an attack, went through many violent acts, and had to deal with numerous threats that came down on him.

King expressed his concerns in the speech, but he emphasized that he was not afraid. The interpretation of the speech creates an image of the activist that is quite different from the conventional view of Reverend Martin Luther King. His conscious and unconscious can be traced in his words, symbols, and imagery presented in his last speech.

Works Cited

Benyei, Peter. “The Potentials of Psychological Approaches to Literature.” Philobiblon: Transylvanian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research in Humanities, vol. 21, no. 1, 2016, pp. 68-83. Web.

Davis, Joseph E. “Martin Luther King and the American Dream: A Conversation with Jonathan Rieder.” The Hedgehog Review, vol. 15, no. 2, 2013, pp. 44-56. Web.

Johnson, Andre E., and Anthony J. Stone Jr. “The Most Dangerous Negro in America”: Rhetoric, Race and the Prophetic Pessimism of Martin Luther King Jr.” Journal of Communication & Religion, vol. 41, no. 1, 2018, pp. 8-22. Web.

King, Martin Luther. “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop.” American Rhetoric. 2018. Web.

Patel, Eboo. “Martin Luther King Jr. and the Light of Other Faiths.” Crosscurrents, vol. 63, no. 3, 2013, pp. 270-275. Web.

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