MLK Letter from Jail essay

The religious leaders are the primary audience in this letter as King responds to criticism open letter and the religious population and moderates are the secondary audiences. The letter addresses the attitudes of the white towards the Civil Rights Movement and African Americans in the 1960s which were hostile and not able to accommodate the movement. King uses various rhetorical and literary devices throughout the letter to justify his actions and show that they aren’t illegal. As seen in paragraph 15, the usage of rhetorical question, “How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others?” shows the figurative language to appeal to the audience and the clergymen to state his view that non-violent protesting is legal and not wrong. Questions are posed in the letter to the logic applying to African Americans arrests at peaceful protests where King argues that a person cannot be blamed for an “evil act” when the person is the victim.

Blacks were prevented from voting if they failed to pass the fifth grade. King use repetition to create attention to responsibility lack where the white men take in helping the cause for the civil rights. He shows the understanding necessity of the white society and their significance to the cause. Repetition is used quite often in the letter by restating what is already said by changing words but maintaining the same meaning. For example when King describes just law and an unjust law meaning; “Any law that uplifts human personality is just. King is very impassioned in his tone and language in the letter but still makes a strong argument for logic. King allows the prevalence of logic in the letter despite overwhelming personal and emotional investment and thus giving him a lot of credibility.

In a certain instance, King appeal to every person of different faith or no faith by writing, “Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds” (King, 2012, 186). The letter shows King’s appeal to his own ethos and also to his opponent’s throughout his argument. By quoting his opponents in the first paragraph, King shows his own ethos and also those of his opponents by honoring him when he says, “I feel that you are men of genuine good will and that your criticisms are sincerely set forth…” He establishes his own ethos by writing that he hopes to answer his opponent’s statement in “patient and reasonable terms. Such appeal to logos shows the patience with King and his movement as they waited long enough and were not ready to wait any longer.

It also appeals to his ethos by showing how his patience in waiting for that long. King effectively appeals to the audience pathos throughout the letter in an attempt to persuade the readers in accepting the significance of taking action now and not later. A sense of shame and guilt is evoked in the letter when addressing the white moderate, showing that they needed to understand the importance of the” non-violent direct action. ” An example of King’s appeal to pathos is seen when he writes, “the nations of Asia and Africa are moving with jet-like speed toward gaining political independence, but we will still creep at horse-and-buggy pace toward a cup of coffee at a lunch counter” (King, 2012, 182). The letter was successful in persuading his audience after it was published as it sparked the Civil Rights Movement and helped the readers understand the significance to act as the problem wasn’t going to solve itself.

The letter shows King’s talent and proficiency as a writer and his dedication to the cause. Work Cited King Jr, Martin Luther. Letter from Birmingham jail.  Liberating faith: Religious voices for justice, peace, & ecological wisdom(2012): 177-187.