Martin Luther King then backs up his view of just and unjust laws with many political figures who set laws that were made to be broken for the rights of the people that faced injustices. King cites Amos, Jesus Christ, Martin Luther, John Bunyan, Abraham Lincoln, and even Thomas Jefferson as examples of people who also had what were considered extremist views and practices. That direct action was the only choice for negation as they were victims of broken promises by the courts and given no alternative choice. In closing, he expresses his hope for a desegregated future of brotherhood and love. King says having to explain to your six-year-old daughter why she cant go to the public amusement park, and see tears welling up in her eyes when she is told the fun town is closed to color children, and see ominous clouds of inferiority beginning to form in her little mental sky and see her beginning to distort her personality by developing an unconscious bitterness towards white people (King 275). He is also telling them this needs to be stopped and can be with the next generation. An allusion is an indirect reference to people, events, literature, etc. To get a custom and plagiarism-free essay. When there are women and children involved, being brutalized seems a lot more brutal. Not only did he bring those injustices forward, but his letter was the stepping stone for the civil rights movement of the 1960s, as justice was finally approaching. An allusion is an indirect reference to people, events, literature, etc. Not trying to fight or disrespect them as he refers to them as men of genuine good will and that your criticism is sincerely set forth (King 273), but still speaks strongly upon his side of the statements that were made. Only members can read the full content. He uses such intense words in this short sentence that really just leaves a picture in your mind. King was in Birmingham Jail when he composed this response. Our writers will help you fix any mistakes and get an A+! The unfairness as they are seen as extremists, the activism of taking extreme measures, for their nonviolent direct-action protest just because they want the same freedom as whites. He was leading a peaceful protest that lead to his arrest for not having a permit. You can order an original essay written according to your instructions. Showing the readers that the cops were actually the violent ones in the nonviolent protest that was going on, theyre the ones causing the harm instead of preventing it. All of these men went down in history as extraordinary individuals. original papers. His perspective was that of a disappointed, black man in America, who had been subjected to all sorts of racial discrimination and segregation through the span of his life. Some may say Martian Luther King could persuade anyone and anything, by the choice of his words and how he made them flow together. King's primary rhetorical technique in "A Letter from Birmingham Jail," a characteristic of much of his writing, is the highly creative use of metaphorical language to make an abstract. On the surface level, King is telling a thorough story, but at a deeper glance his argument contains advanced diction and rhetoric that made his letter credible, logical, and emotional. The Letter of Birmingham Jail. Discovering Arguments: An, Introduction to Critical Thinking and Writing, with Readings, by Dean Memering and William Palmer, Prentice Hall, 2005, pp. But when you have seen vicious mobs lynch your mothers and fathers at will and drown your sisters and brothers at whim. (P. 429) This quote comes from King expressing just how serious and emotional this cause is for him and members of the black community. original papers. King uses this appeal so that the audience understands that he knows what he is talking about. He was a man that is recognized all over as a leader for influencing the desegregation of the southern United States. Don't know where to start? I'm Amy, Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/letter-from-birmingham-jail-rhetorical-analysis/. This aspect of Kings argument actually forced them to evaluate the facts and state of the issue. He said that he has watched his brothers and sisters be referred to as niggers and boys, be punched and kicked, lynched, burned, drowned, cursed, and brutalized. Our writers will help you fix any mistakes and get an A+! This letter is about ending indifference toward the subject of discrimination. Specify your topic, deadline, number of pages and other requirements. The best example of this appeal is when King explains the urgency behind his cause. Analogies are comparisons through which the writer uses one event or person to describe another, creating associations for the readers. Logos is the appeal that refers to logic and facts. Showing that he takes the cultural ideas of him and his followers very seriously and is there to fight for them. How? In Letter of Birmingham Jail MLK does just that. Even in closing, King says that his letter would have been much easier to compose, had he not been thrown in jail for peacefully protesting for the rights of people who he considers to be family. The "letter of Birmingham Jail" was written by Martin Luther King on April 16, 1963. His famous Letter from Birmingham offered a detailed response to the white moderate of his time, rebutting their claims that the direct actions of Kings cause, were untimely and unwise. Kings culmination of ethos, pathos, and logos plays a large part in why his Letter from Birmingham was so effective and so well received by his society, and continues to be a piece that future societies are able to learn from. Who can say that the legislature of Alabama which set up that states segregation laws was democratically elected (King 277)? This appeals to ethos as it validates kings quality educational background. One of the statements made by the clergymen was that they warmly commended the Birmingham police for keeping order and preventing violence. Be careful, this sample is accessible to everyone. Quick action is typically a product of this appeal, which makes it the perfect secret weapon for Kings letter. For example, Now is the time to make real the promise of democracy and transform our pending national elegy into a creative psalm of brotherhood. He does this by describing just and unjust laws from multiple different angles, in ways the reader could relate to. (2021, Jun 07). He recognized that this was an effective way to bring further into the light the atrocities of racism and segregation. Rhetorical Analysis of The Letter of Birmingham Jail, This example was written and submitted by a fellow student. He painted a picture of the violence they faced, the injustices, and brutality they had to endure. Each one of the arguments put onward by the clergymen MLK put down and refuted with facts that were undeniable. MLK then establishes his credibility by saying, I have the honor of serving as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization operating in every southern state, with headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. Blog. He uses logos to first bring forward the racial injustices that engulf Birmingham stating, Birmingham is probably the most thoroughly segregated city in the United States. - Use specific language that is appropriate to the audience and topic (connect with audience) - Use correct grammar and syntax Letter From Birmingham Jail Rhetorical Analysis. King uses logos as a means to pick apart the flaws of the clergys concerns and show them just how warranted his actions are. In order to get people to agree with him on just vs. unjust laws he needs to do more than appeal to the readers pathos and ethos. Rhetorical Devices used in "Letter from Birmingham Jail" BY: Vitoria Domingues What is Ethos? This puts it in perspective making it hard for the reader to refute. He Compares his fight for freedom with the Apostle Paul and the prophets fight for the gospel of Jesus Christ. He backs up each of the clergymens arguments with logical evidence to his stand point on the topic. Chat with professional writers to choose the paper writer that suits you best. MLK wrote the Letter from Birmingham Jail in response to an essay written by white clergymen. The anaphora If you were to is meant to inspire his readers to emp. After Martin Luther King looked over the clergymens unjust propositions he efficiently constructed his counter argument as he directly started his letter my dear fellow clergymen. A law is unjust if it is inflicted on a minority that, as a result of being denied the right to vote, had no part in enacting or devising the law. The prejudices of the white moderate who say they agree with the goal they seek of freedom but cannot agree with their methods of direct actions. Logos is all about making sense. The time was now, they were done waiting for change instead they were going to make it happen on their own terms by creating tension that would force them to confront the issue. He then addresses the clergymens anxiety over their willingness to break laws. King had to use his platform to set it straight as there were only newspapers at the time to capture the major brutalitys if they were lucky. He explained how black Americans have waited over 300 years to acquire basic constitutional rights. We have some eighty-five affiliated organizations across the south, and one of them is the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights (King 273). He makes this statement to show he is not an outsider but presents himself as an insider, as he is the president of the conference. Another example of this appeal is when King is arguing the paradoxical nature of breaking laws. Our writers can help you with any type of essay. Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/rhetorical-analysis-of-the-letter-of-birmingham-jail/. A graphic organizer of MLK's "Letter from Birmingham Jail" identifying rhetorical devices and how the rhetorical device establishes ethos, pathos, and logos. Hi! Throughout his letter he brings forward the injustices of just vs. unjust laws used by the segregator and pushed upon the segregated. your personal assistant! King makes use of ethos in his writing, which is an appeal to ethics; this establishes a certain level of credibility for him. For any subject. Repetitions help the writer give structure to his arguments and highlight important aspects. Therefore, tugging at the heartstrings was an extremely powerful way to send a message.
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