Compare Martin Luther King And Civil Disobedience

During the time of Henry David Thoreau and Martin Luther King Jr., freedom for African-Americans was relative terminology in the fact that one was during slavery and the other during the Civil Rights era. “Civil Disobedience,” written by Thoreau, analyzes the duty and responsibility of citizens to protest and take action against such corrupt laws and other acts of the government. Likewise, King conveys to his “Letter from Birmingham Jail” audience that the laws of the government against blacks are intolerable and that civil disobedience should be used as an instrument of freedom. Both writers display effective usage of the pathos and ethos appeal as means to persuade their audience of their cause and meaning behind their writing, although King proves to be more successful in his execution.
First, King's emotional appeal is what above all contrasts Thoreau's essay. Both hold the same theme of disobeying unjust laws, their admiration for the minority's viewpoint, and even the fact that they wrote their essays in prison; however, King uses pathos in order to arouse shame, empathy, and sympathy while Thoreau lacks a true emotional relation. Primarily, King draws emotional appeal with the usage of a passion, devotion, and a hopeful and optimistic tone. To draw insight into his own life and evoke guilt upon the white moderates, King makes two references to conversations shared with his children. He discusses the instant with his daughter and her desire to go to “the public amusement park that has just been advertised on television,” and the conflict that was faced because “Funtown is closed to colored children.” King relates to his audience through their children and their feelings to show them the great impact that the segregation h...

... middle of paper ...

...asserts “But, to speak practically and as a citizen, unlike those who call themselves no government men, I ask for, not at once no government, but at once better government.”
King uses his position of being an American clergy man, devout Christian and a leader of the civil rights movement in order to push for civil rights against racial segregation and prejudices and bring more recognition and light towards African Americans. King uses various words and phrases to achieve the emotions of the audience to sympathize his state and to understand the sacrifices he has made towards the civil rights movement. Unlike Martin Luther King, Thoreau did not rule out using violence against an unjust government. When reviewing the rhetorical appeals of logos, ethos and pathos, King achieved a clear, more concise essay with greater emotional depth and a more relatable personality.