RHETORICAL ANALYSIS: One reason that "Letter from Birmingham Jail" remains one of the best-known texts of the civil rights era is because of the powerful rhetoric that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Uses to advocate for nonviolent resistance to racism. Write a response in which you delineate and evaluate King's argument, his specific claims, his rhetorical appeals, his use of sources, and his argument's conclusion. Support your analysis with evidence from the text.

Answer and Explanation:

The success of the "Letter from Birmingham Jail" written by Matin Luther King is due to the efficient use of rhetorical devices that he used with mastery and that in addition to positioning his claim, he managed to move different attitudes in the readers of these letters. One of these devices was the allusion, where King presents associations with his text and religious figures and historical events that emphasize the theme he is presenting. The allusions to religious figures are a very strong factor in this text, since King wants to use this letter as an answer to clerics who criticized civil rights movements. An example of an allusion can be seen when King quotes “the prophets of the eighth century B.C.” and “the Apostle Paul”.

King also made several analogies, providing comparisons and creating associations once again to defend his point of view. These analogies were constructed through several parallels between pacifist movements in favor of civil rights and historical figures that changed society like Lincln, Jesus, Martin Luther, Socrates among others. At this point, in addition to the analogy, King appeals to ethos, evoking ethics and showing legitimacy to readers.

King also used rhetorical questions, forcing readers and possible listeners to reflect on the situations in which he finds himself and how this situation has reflected in society. These questions, mainly, compel the reader to reflect on the position of clergy in relation to the demonstrations. He uses questions like “You may well ask:‘ Why direct action? Why sit ins, marches and so forth? Isn't negotiation a better path? ’” And “One may well ask:‘ How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others? ’”

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