Rhetorical Analysis Of Letter From A Birmingham Jail

As Gandhi once said “An unjust law is itself a species of violence. Arrest for its breach is more so” Retrieved from: www.brainyquote.com. This is exactly what happened to Martin Luther King Jr. After facing segregation for his skin color, he was imprisoned for participating in a nonviolent protest. He reflects upon the morality of this in his “Letter from A Birmingham Jail,” where he effectively incorporates anaphora, strong diction, enthymeme and allusions in his ethos and pathos appeals, while supporting them with his logic behind it all.

To understand the rhetoric devices, one must be familiar with the kairos and discourse. He sets up this letter as a defensive response to the ‘Call of Unity’s’ criticisms and justification of his actions,

The goal of the ethos appeal is to emphasize credibility. He addresses the letter with “My Dear Fellow Clergymen”; although this is a simple statement, he is essentially putting himself on the same “level” as them. By connecting with them, he is more likely to persuade. In his second paragraph, King establishes his trustworthiness by saying “I have the honor of serving as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization operating in every southern state, with headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. We have some eighty-five affiliated organizations across the South, and one of them is the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights” (King, 1963). A president is someone who is typically trusted and has everyone’s best interest at heart, so by presenting his status as a president, the audience is likely to respect him. He furthers his credentials by comparing himself to Apostle Paul and referring to Socrates; one can apply he is educated by referring to these two. Not only is this implying his education, but rather alluding to many valued figures in

Martin Luther King Jr., sparks emotion amongst the readers, through the use of pathos in attempt to create an emotional feel. His diction and vivid language makes this appeal successful. He writes on his scratch paper given to him in jail “I guess it is easy for those who have never felt the stinging darts of segregation to say "wait" (Longager & Walker, 2011, p. 270). The phrase “I guess” conveys the irony and absurdity of his claim. “Stinging darts” is also powerful, and truly makes the audience feel sorrow for those facing racial segregation. His strong diction is also depicted through anaphora. The repetition of phrases and words such as “when you have seen vicious mobs lynch your mother,” “when you have seen hate filled policemen curse” and “see tears welling up in her eyes” provide the reader with a sense of sadness. By emphasizing “you,” he forces the reader to put themselves in the position that he is in, and experience it with him. Using anaphora creates a sense of memorability and urgency, all while remaining in the pathos category (Longager & Walker, 2011, p.256). Strategically used repetition not only forces the reader to focus on an idea, but also assists in conveying his intended message. The logos appeal is also in effect here. He utilizes the logos appeal to argue a non-violent protest is a wise decision. He details the daily life of an African American man, using words such as