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Rhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King Jr

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The Persona of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. Martin Luther King was very influential in both his writings and speeches. King created a reputation for himself that will continue to live on throughout American history. He was inspirational to the point in which he has a holiday devoted to him, he has landmarks in many cities named in his honor, his name is one that every American has heard and knows at least a little bit about. Dr. King is responsible for many great works such as, “Letter from Birmingham Jail” and “American Dream”. Throughout his work, King has influenced countless people to stop wherever they might find themselves and evaluate their way of living. King’s words are able to open people's eyes to a new way of life. King took advantage of the rhetorical devices, ethos, logos, and pathos in order to articulate his message in such a way that would always leave the reader feeling something instead of just thinking. …show more content…

King utilized the rhetorical device, pathos, beautifully in his famous work, Letter from Birmingham Jail. He used pathos to help the audience feel what he felt. The words that King uses, helps his audience think about how they would feel if they were put in a similar position to his. One way King was able to make the audience feel a personal connection to him was by saying, “But when you have seen vicious mobs lynch your mothers and fathers at will and drown your sisters and brothers at whim…” This strategic use of pathos helps create a feeling of empathy among his audience in regards to King’s writings. King’s use of pathos helped his writing be more credible and less irrational than he looked to an outside perspective. When King was able to get his audience to evaluate his situations, it helped them realize the motives behind his

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