Analysis Of Letter From Birmingham Jail, By Martin Luther King

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Every human being should be given rights from the day that they are born. All people are equal, and should be treated so. Yet, human rights have been taken away time after time again throughout history. By individuals/ groups who strive for power, so much so that they would put restrictions on other’s rights. Such as Blacks and women in America who are not given their constitutional rights, due to Caucasian men who strive for power. And Indians who are not given their unalienable rights of freedom when under British rule. These violated rights are mentioned in the passages of “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, written by Martin Luther King Jr., “In this Blind Alley “ ~ Ahmad Shamlu, “Freedom” ~ Rabindranath Tagore, and “Women” by Alice Walker. …show more content…

The author uses the strategy of metaphor to show how the Indian people are restricted. The British take away their freedoms of religion and speech. The text states, “They smell your mouth...you've told someone ‘I love you’... Love must be hid in closets at home”(lines 1,2...8) ”They keep their fire ablaze...burning our anthems and poems. Do not venture to think... Has come to kill the light...Light...Joy...God must be hid in the closet at home.”(lines 10-12, 15, 22, 28) These quote show all of the rights that the British had taken away from the Indian people. They weren't allowed to express themselves, defy the government, they weren't allowed to think, speech and practice their beliefs. Ahmad used metaphor to develop meaning. He uses the metaphor of “burning anthems and poems” to symbolize the removal of culture and patriotic pride. “Kill the light” and “hid in the closet at home” shows the author using more metaphors to express meaning. Therefore, the rights of Indian were restricted in this time …show more content…

The authors uses the strategy of symbolism to show how the Indians are struggling and are being restricted. The text states, “my Motherland! - fear, the phantom demon, shaped by your own distorted dreams… burden of ages, bending your head, breaking your back, blinding your eyes to the beckoning call of the future...shackles of slumber...mistrusting the star that speaks of truth’s adventurous path… anarchy of destiny… Sails are weakly yielded to blind uncertain winds… hand….rigid and cold as Death… The insult of dwelling in a puppet’s world… movements are started through brainless wires….repeated… mindless habits… Figures wait with patient obedience for a master of show to be stirred into… Life” These quotes show imagery to develop meaning in word choice. He uses the words ‘Motherland’ to represent India and the ‘phantom demon’ being Great Britain. The Indian people are afraid of the controller that watches them. India tries its best to get out of the clutches of Britain. But the country keeps on getting pulled back in and all the people can do is to have hope for a future in which they can be free. Thus, the rights of Indians were

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