His attitude in the letter is very respectful. However, he does not want to end the letter without letting the clergymen know of the reality of brutality happening to them. The letter consisted of justifying and additional information for the clergy to know why he intended his protests and such in the first place. 10. Trace one of the following patterns of figurative language throughout King's letter: darkness and light, high and low, sickness and health.
AP Language & Composition Sample Responses to Questions on MLK’s Letter from Birmingham Jail Read as a response to the letter by the clergymen, King’s essay can be approached as a shrewd argument that shows a thorough understanding of its immediate audience. Following his introduction, in paragraphs 2-3 King explains why he is not an ousider; in paragraphs 5-11, he explains how his organization has tried to negotiate and how it will again; in paragraphs 12-14, he refutes the accusation that his organization’s actions are untimely; and in paragraphs 15-22 he presents an argument justifying civil disobedience. In each case, King deftly crafts his response to show that he, in fact, agrees with the claim the clergymen make, but he redefines the terms for them. For example, he agrees that outsiders should not intrude in community issues; then he shows that he is an insider by virtue of his position in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, his concern for justice, and his belief that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Thus, King systematically, logically, and (one might argue) respectfully responds to each claim made against him. After these counterarguments, he mounts his own argument.
He uses the conflict between Brady and Drummond, the lawyers who represent both sides respectively, to convey the struggle for freedom and the need to respect differing opinions. As a defence lawyer shows, all opinions have value, "While we may not agree with your ideas, we respect your right to voice them". It can be seen how the director, Stanley Kramer, is on the side of evolutionism. This is evident as Kramer portrays the highly religious people from Hillsboro as unpleasant and narrow minded. Through the characterisation of the Reverend, his narrow mindedness can be seen when he says “lord, we ask the same curse for those who ask grace for this sinner”.
Dr. King’s Letter Analysis While trapped in a jail cell Dr. King wrote an extremely long letter stating his argument using ethos, pathos, and logos to the clergymen of Birmingham. The brilliance of his letter details the facts and the emotional civil issues that are still happening during his time of fame. In this essay I will break his letter, or book, by extracting the ethos, pathos and logos from beginning to end. In the title of the letter our civil rights hero uses ethos to show that he is equal to the clergymen and they are equal to him. He does this because he does not want the men to see him as a person on a lower standard or lower level than they are.
One has not only a legal, but moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust law.”( Bloom, Smith 499) As we analyze Dr. Kings letter we observe the way he conveyed his message by using what the clergymen said to present his counter argument. In the clergymen’s statement, they distinguished Martin Luther King as an outsider and called his actions unwise and untimely. Dr. King then sets the foundation of his letter and identifies what was said by saying,” I came across your recent statement calling my present activities “unwise and untimely”, and I should indicate why I am here in Birmingham, since you have been influenced by the view which argues against outsider coming in.”(Bloom, Smith 495) By using an ethical appeal Dr. King begins to justify his presence by assuring the clergymen that he was invited because of his organizational ties with the Southern Christian Leadership, in which he serves as president. He also goes on to say,” but more basically, I am here in Birmingham because injustice is here.” (Bloom, Smith 495) It was important for Marti Luther King to say this because it supported the fact that he was not an outsider coming in at the wrong time, but he was welcomed
Opponents of civil disobedience see it as a threat to democratic society and the forerunner of violence and anarchy. The premise... to disobey a law that they feel is unjust. As martin luther king Jr. , wrote in his Letter from Birmingham Jail, "I submit that an individual who breaks a law that his conscience tells him is unjust, and willingly accepts the penalty by staying in jail to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the very highest respect for law. " Civil disobedience is most justifiable when prior lawful attempts to rectify the situation have failed; and when the acts of civil disobedience are done to force the society to recognize the problem; when performed openly and publicly; and when the actor will accept the punishment. Many proponents urge that civil disobedience be used only in the most extreme cases, arguing that the Constitution provides many opportunities to voice one's grievances without breaking the law.
He begins by establishing rapport between himself and his audience by stating that he receives many criticisms and that he has personally decided to respond to this one because he believes the clergymen are “of genuine good will” and that their criticisms “are sincerely set forth.” The argument that the clergymen have used against King is that “outsiders [should not be] coming in” to Birmingham. King first starts to respond to this criticism by appealing to his ethos, stating that he has “the honor of serving as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.” He uses the authority that he has as the president of the SCLC to claim that he has a right to be in Birmingham “because [he] was invited [to Birmingham]” and that he has “organizational ties [in Birmingham].” He then proceeds to appeal to pathos when he compares himself to the Apostle Paul as a peacemaking, “gospel of freedom” teaching prophet who has come to Birmingham “because injustice is here” and he is answering “the Macedonian call for aid.” This appeal to religion is used because his audience is a
It consists in gumming together long strips of words which have already been set in order by someone else, and making the results presentable by sheer humbug (Orwell 209).” Orwell uses powerful but invective language to argue that current writing habits are ineffective in affecting the audience in any meaningful way. He shows the weakness of the English language while displaying a powerful alternative to current writing styles. Another reason for his use of invective language is due to the dishonest nature of political writing. Orwell stated that political writing was formed “to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind (Orwell 214).” This
The torture machine of the story “In the Penal Colony” is a symbol of the authority language has. Despite being lifeless and inanimate, the machine seems to devolve the people around it to mere additions who lack names and identities. Even the titles the characters are given only reflect their position to the machine; the Officer controls it, the Condemned is to be placed within it, and the Explorer (or Researcher in some translations) observes and judges. In observance with the presence of command and superiority it possesses, the machine is also constructed on a pedestal so high, that the man controlling it must to use a ladder to reach its upper parts. This shows that even the one who constructs the machine, becomes its servant.
Maya Van Lysebettens 9/7/13 Block 1 British Literature Mr. Hahm Mark Antony Funeral Oration Critical Analysis Hostile Turnaround Mark Antony’s friendship with Julius Caesar has made him a distrusted man by the conspirators. Antony is not facing a benevolent crowd, rather a malicious crowd so this is not easy, but a very dangerous speech to give. Antony is a man walking on ice around Brutus so he must be careful on how he says and what he says because of the fact that Brutus only gave him permission to speak as long as he didn’t reflect anything bad. At first Antony’s first order of business is create a link between him and the people to give the appearance that he is trustworthy so he starts by addressing the crowd as “friends.” His next step is to indulge them by not praising Caesar, but actually reducing Caesar to the commons’ level. By doing this, he manages to calm the storm of a crowd.