Preview

Analysis Of Martin Luther King's Letters From Birmingham Jail

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
235 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Analysis Of Martin Luther King's Letters From Birmingham Jail
In Martin Luther King’s letter, “letters from Birmingham Jail” he uses ethos and allusion to advocate for civil disobedience. He uses ethos by stating “I would agree with Saint Augustine that an unjust law is no law at all.” (Page 7) This shows ethos because it uses the credible source, Saint Augustine. By him being credible because he’s famous/well known, more people are able to understand and believe in what Martin was trying to suggest. He was trying to say by using this quote that that some laws are unreasonable and should not be followed if they are not fair or equal and do not help or protect the people. Another way Martin is able to advocate civil disobedience is his use of allusions. In the text it says “To put in the terms of saint
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Summary Of Martin Luther King's 'letter From Birmingham Jail '
    • 1468 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Summary Of Martin Luther King's 'letter From Birmingham Jail '

    About individual civil rights. In the ´Letter from Birmingham Jail”, Martin Luther King sorts to respond to the criticism of several clergy men since he believes they are “men of genuine good will”. In respond to what they said about their actions being “unwise and untimely”. King explains their delay in action due to the occurring events, back to back. They do not wish the media to copulate their actions with the events, because they are two separate things. After that explanation, King states what brought him in Birmingham. Injustice is what brought this man to the city. King states that Birmingham is the most segregated city in America. Simply because there are brutal police incidents. Bombings of Negro properties such as homes, churches than any other city. And colored people are treated unjustly in courts. Thus with these things happening in Birmingham, King went there to get justice for the oppressed, because he believes that their individual civil rights are…

    • 1468 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Rhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King's Letter From Birmingham Jail
    • 323 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Rhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King's Letter From Birmingham Jail

    Martin Luther King Jr.'s letter from Birmingham Jail was written on April 16, 1963 while he was incarcerated in the Birmingham City Jail. This letter addresses the criticism that a group of white men had thrown at him and his pro-black American organization about their non-violent actions against racial discrimination and injustice among black Americans in Birmingham. He notes that he doesn’t usually respond to letters of criticism but he thought that they were “good willed people and their criticism was sincerely set forth.” King writes this letter to defend his organization's actions. King's letter talks about…

    • 323 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Martin Luther King Jr: An Analysis of the Letter from Birmingham Jail
    • 1184 Words
    • 34 Pages

    Martin Luther King Jr: An Analysis of the Letter from Birmingham Jail

    Written by Martin Luther King Jr., the “Letter from Birmingham Jail” is a paragon of persuasive writing that takes advantage of ethos, pathos, and logos in order to convince its readers to take MLK’s side during the American civil rights movement. The use of ethos defines MLK as a credible writer; the use of pathos appeals to his audience on a personal level; and the use of logos layers his arguments and claims with irrefutable reasoning and logic. By using all three techniques, MLK is able to hold the attention of his readers and persuade them to take his side in the battle against segregation.…

    • 1184 Words
    • 34 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    An Analysis Of Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter From Birmingham Jail
    • 155 Words
    • 1 Page

    An Analysis Of Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter From Birmingham Jail

    Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham Jail is a response to eight of his fellow clergymen. He wrote this letter while the government arrested him and other protesters who were demonstrating in Birmingham, and he dedicated his whole life to the civil rights of the Blacks. In this letter, he response to the clergymen that questions his methods of protest. Different from Thomas Jefferson’s pure logic argument, he still adds his passionate sense of the injustice African Americans has suffered to his cool logic argument. Also, he uses first person perspective in this letter, which makes it more personal. Anyway, these two writings own different properties, so it is obvious that they would have different writing techniques. However, Martin…

    • 155 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Rhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter From Birmingham Jail
    • 185 Words
    • 1 Page

    Rhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter From Birmingham Jail

    In his “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” Martin Luther King Jr. uses rhetoric to persuade readers into supporting his cause. His letter addresses white men questioning his actions, though his message is for gaining supporters throughout America. Addressing the criticism of white men questioning and criticizing his recent behaviors, he begins explaining the motives behind his actions, their justification, and his next endeavors to rid America of its social injustices.…

    • 185 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    An Analysis Of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter From Birmingham Jail
    • 254 Words
    • 2 Pages

    An Analysis Of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter From Birmingham Jail

    In 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote “Letter from Birmingham Jail” from jail in Birmingham, Alabama in response to a public statement issued by eight white clergyman calling his actions “ unwise and untimely”. African Americans have been waiting to have there civil rights of freedom, but the social courts has requested them not protest on the street but to take it to court. Dr. King wrote, “This wait has almost always meant never.” This is why Dr. king addresses this matter in a letter about the battle of segregation. He hopes that this letter will stop this injustice matter, and show what the African American desire. Furthermore, Dr. King had four steps to achieve his goals by collecting facts, negotiation, self-purification, and direct…

    • 254 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Analysis Of Luther's Letter From Birmingham Jail
    • 617 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Analysis Of Luther's Letter From Birmingham Jail

    In a non specific way, the clergymans' letter is trying to reach black people and Luther's letter is trying to reach white people. Both letters want peace between races, but the argument is over time. The clergymans' letter's purpose is to get black activists like M.L.K to stop uniting as a race and protesting civil rights. They keep the letter professional because they want to easily get their way, so it is written in a demanding manner. Luther's letter directly makes his letter to the clergymen, but it speaks to all white people. His purpose is to tell the world they have been demoralized and wants all white people to feel ashamed of what they have done, so it is written more as a speech.…

    • 617 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Allusions In Martin Luther King's Letter From Birmingham Jail
    • 666 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Allusions In Martin Luther King's Letter From Birmingham Jail

    Martin Luther King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail is one of the most well known documents in American history. King’s profound ability to articulate important ideas, values, concepts and Biblical perspectives made for some of the most powerful and inspirational pieces of American literature ever produced. One technique that King used in his public speeches and letters was his allusions to historical figures, the Bible and opposing congressmen. During the 60’s when cultural prejudice still held strong roots in Congress, it was King’s talent to inspire the public that revolutionized America’s racial injustices. King’s frequent use of allusions in his famous Letter from Birmingham Jail proved his intelligence and greatly attributed to his success and popularity during the 1960’s. His allusions demonstrated his referential capabilities while also making his messages readily relatable to the public.…

    • 666 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Summary Of Dr. Martin Luther King's Letter From Birmingham Jail
    • 547 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Summary Of Dr. Martin Luther King's Letter From Birmingham Jail

    It has been sixty years since the Civil Rights movement began. During that time, Civil Rights activists were attempting to combat injustices and discrimination throughout the South and other parts of America. Since its end in 1968, many Americans think that there has been real progress made in regards to the issue of injustices in America. A poll conducted in June of 2014 found that nearly eight in ten Americans think there has been real progress made since the 1960s in ridding the country of discrimination. While the fight against injustice and discrimination was raging, one man was on the front line leading the battle, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. King, though extremely passionate about his cause, was non-violent in his approach to attaining his objectives of justifying his cause, demonstrating the trials of African Americans in America, and arguing that immediate action is paramount. While in a…

    • 547 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Is Ethos Used In Letter From Birmingham Jail
    • 461 Words
    • 2 Pages

    How Is Ethos Used In Letter From Birmingham Jail

    In "Letter from Birmingham Jail", Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. discusses whether or not African Americans have the same opportunities and equal rights as whites do. Then, King further explains the daily struggles and dilemmas that African Americans have been going through for such a long time and that change is essential. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. uses appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos. King also uses historical, biblical, and literary allusions to support and further his argument. Dr. King begins with ethos and logos by discussing how nonviolent protests are perfectly legal and are lawful acts. He states that he is imprisoned in Birmingham because, "injustice is here," (King 332). This appeals to ethos because it is morally and ethically…

    • 461 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    What Is Martin Luther King Letter From Birmingham Jail Rhetorical Analysis
    • 350 Words
    • 2 Pages

    What Is Martin Luther King Letter From Birmingham Jail Rhetorical Analysis

    He effectively makes and develops his argument by announcing King's death and mentioning all the problems that is plaguing the U.S. He states that Martin Luther King Jr. has passed away, and he continues to say that with his death. We should learn to love and to give justice, It says on paragraph 3,"Martin Luther King dedicated his life to love and to justice between fellow human beings. He died in the cause of that effort." He continues to develop his argument by mentioning that you can be bitter and hate him. He then said how the country would be, if they would continue the they are doing their things. He then mentions the death of a family member, and mentions how he was killed by a white man. He gives his favorite poet and asks everyone to say a prayer.…

    • 350 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    An Analysis Of Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter From Birmingham Jail
    • 1284 Words
    • 6 Pages

    An Analysis Of Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter From Birmingham Jail

    On April 16th, 1963, during the peak of the Civil Rights movement, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote to a collection of clergymen in regards to his beliefs and protests. In his “Letter From Birmingham Jail,” King aptly wrote to the clergymen about their concerns in a respectful manner, while maintaining his dignity and explaining his purpose. In order to validate his points, he first built his credibility, and from there flowed into a plethora of other strategies. His emotional anecdotes and insight are strong points in his letter, appealing to the clergymen’s sense of compassion and justice. The imagery that accompanies his writing creates vivid and horrifying scenes meant to encourage the reader to join King in his civil rights endeavors. Logically, King presents his values in a manner that becomes inarguable against, which furthers the persuasive value of his writing. His…

    • 1284 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Rhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King's Letter From A Birmingham Jail
    • 872 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Rhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King's Letter From A Birmingham Jail

    Through Martin Luther King Jr.’s 39 years of life, he impacted millions across the globe with his letters and speeches. For most of his life, King used his strong ability with words to inspire and call people to action in many cases. King’s words were so moving because no matter black or white, King understood the issues people experienced daily. I believe Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” was so impactful because of the way he persuaded people why civil disobedience was necessary and what caused him to break the law with his strong use of ethos, logos and pathos, and by answering the concerns of the people.…

    • 872 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Dr. Martin Luther King's Letter From Birmingham Jail
    • 172 Words
    • 1 Page

    Dr. Martin Luther King's Letter From Birmingham Jail

    Dr. Martin Luther King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail" is a response to Dr. King's follow clergymen criticism. The topic of Dr. Kings letters from a Birmingham prison is the nonviolent protest being done in Birmingham, Alabama in the fight for African Americans civil rights. Some clergymen, mostly white American men, believe the nonviolent protest Dr. King and African Americans were during was "unwise" and "untimely". The main argument Dr. King is making in the letter is the protest being done in Birmingham is "wise" and most important "timely". The way Dr. King constructs his argument is as if he was preaching his argument to his congregation. Take for instance when the part of the letter when Dr. King talks about different men, both biblical…

    • 172 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Martin Luther King's Letter From A Birmingham Jail
    • 1019 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Martin Luther King's Letter From A Birmingham Jail

    “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” was written in a time of civil unrest in the United States and served as a background to the fight against segregation suffered by African Americans. King used his letter to inform the world of the plight of African American’s and utilized natural law to clarify his position. In King’s letter he affirms his belief that he has not broken the law, he asserts that “an unjust law is no law at all”. What I believe that King is saying is that a law that is unjust does not serve the purpose of natural law. In this essay, I intend to argue that Martin Luther King Jr. in his 1963 “Letters from a Birmingham Jail” adapted the principles of St. Thomas Aquinas’ conception of natural law to successfully argue against Alabama’s segregation laws.…

    • 1019 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics