Humans are stubborn creatures, and take comfort in familiarity. Any threat to such comfort causes an outrage amongst the people. Martin Luther King Jr.’s civil rights movement threatened the status-quo, causing fear of racial equality. While his fellow clergymen should support human welfare, they choose to criticize King. In the Birmingham city jail letter, King explained his intentions to the clergy by delicately balancing both pathos and logos. Using diction, King elucidates the moral need for equality.
Throughout his letter, King employs biblical references to compare his endeavors to those of early Christians. King writes, “. . . early Christians rejoiced at being deemed worthy to suffer for what they believed . . .the people in power …show more content…
A just law is one that is morally sound for the benefit of humanity, while an unjust law is one that degrades human beings. He discusses laws saying, “. . . it may seem paradoxical for us to consciously break laws.” While it may be seemingly “paradoxical” to break laws to promote peace, a law - meant to protect and honor citizens - that inhibits a person from basic human rights is certainly discordant. King has legally trespassed, but ethically, he has the moral imperative of revolting against the injustice. As fellow members of the Christian community, the clergy should follow the laws that manifest goodwill. King appeals to the audience’s logos by exemplifying this non …show more content…
King yearns that “. . . the dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away and the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear drenched communities.” This image of bracing the elements creates feelings of uncertainty and fear, encompassing the everyday struggles of African Americans. King collates this with “the radiant stars of love and brotherhood.” This analogy express the hope of a better life. To complete the metaphor, the stars are visible once the dark clouds pass. King contrasts these images to illustrate the importance of cooperation to the clergy. Once people eliminate hostility, goodwill is able to
Throughout his letter, King employs biblical references to compare his endeavors to those of early Christians. King writes, “. . . early Christians rejoiced at being deemed worthy to suffer for what they believed . . .the people in power …show more content…
A just law is one that is morally sound for the benefit of humanity, while an unjust law is one that degrades human beings. He discusses laws saying, “. . . it may seem paradoxical for us to consciously break laws.” While it may be seemingly “paradoxical” to break laws to promote peace, a law - meant to protect and honor citizens - that inhibits a person from basic human rights is certainly discordant. King has legally trespassed, but ethically, he has the moral imperative of revolting against the injustice. As fellow members of the Christian community, the clergy should follow the laws that manifest goodwill. King appeals to the audience’s logos by exemplifying this non …show more content…
King yearns that “. . . the dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away and the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear drenched communities.” This image of bracing the elements creates feelings of uncertainty and fear, encompassing the everyday struggles of African Americans. King collates this with “the radiant stars of love and brotherhood.” This analogy express the hope of a better life. To complete the metaphor, the stars are visible once the dark clouds pass. King contrasts these images to illustrate the importance of cooperation to the clergy. Once people eliminate hostility, goodwill is able to