Analysis on Letter from Birmingham Jail
In “Letter from Birmingham Jail” written by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr to his fellow clergymen. King aimed to persuade the clergymen as well as the other readers of his dedication to the civil rights movement and his work. His expert use of pathos, logos, ethos, and other literary devices reflect Kings’ intelligence, and credibility on the matter of segregation, injustice and discrimination. King was and continues to be one of the most quintessential examples of “civil disobedience” and his work is often quoted on the subject of racism and prejudiced.
After being jailed for a protest in Birmingham Alabama on April 16, 1963 King set to work on his literary masterpiece that changed the course of this nation’s history. Kings’ unique situation while writing the letter all added to the attitude of this piece. In the jail cell …show more content…
This was to prove to the clergymen or any other opponent that he had the authority to advocate for civil rights. The first example of this would be in paragraph 4 when he states, “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.” This furthers his credibility as a religious leader and puts him equal and if not even more knowledgeable than the other clergymen. He also often references the bible such as in paragraph 22 when he is writing about civil disobedience “It was evidenced sublimely in the refusal of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to obey the laws of Nebuchadnezzar, on the ground that a higher moral law was at stake.” This proves his knowledge of the bible is infallible, he states the bible exactly as it is worded and does not twist it to fit his argument only. His skillful use of ethos demonstrates he has the necessary wisdom to express his opinions on civil
In “Letter from Birmingham Jail” written by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr to his fellow clergymen. King aimed to persuade the clergymen as well as the other readers of his dedication to the civil rights movement and his work. His expert use of pathos, logos, ethos, and other literary devices reflect Kings’ intelligence, and credibility on the matter of segregation, injustice and discrimination. King was and continues to be one of the most quintessential examples of “civil disobedience” and his work is often quoted on the subject of racism and prejudiced.
After being jailed for a protest in Birmingham Alabama on April 16, 1963 King set to work on his literary masterpiece that changed the course of this nation’s history. Kings’ unique situation while writing the letter all added to the attitude of this piece. In the jail cell …show more content…
This was to prove to the clergymen or any other opponent that he had the authority to advocate for civil rights. The first example of this would be in paragraph 4 when he states, “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.” This furthers his credibility as a religious leader and puts him equal and if not even more knowledgeable than the other clergymen. He also often references the bible such as in paragraph 22 when he is writing about civil disobedience “It was evidenced sublimely in the refusal of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to obey the laws of Nebuchadnezzar, on the ground that a higher moral law was at stake.” This proves his knowledge of the bible is infallible, he states the bible exactly as it is worded and does not twist it to fit his argument only. His skillful use of ethos demonstrates he has the necessary wisdom to express his opinions on civil