Use Of Language In Speech To The Second Virginia Convention And Letter From Birmingham Jail

The authors of "Speech to the Second Virginia Convention" and the "Letter from Birmingham Jail" both use strong, powerful language in their writings to change the way their world is viewed.

Patrick Henry uses strong language and expressions to show how passionate he is about what he is portraying to others in his speech. In his speech, Henry states, “Sir, we have done everything that could be done, to avert the storm which is now coming” (paragraph 4). By using the strong language of “avert the storm”, it allows the audience to see how passionate Henry is about going to war against Britain. Throughout most of his strong language being used, Henry uses facial expressions, and body language to show his purpose. After Henry says, “Suffer not

King uses strong, powerful language in his letter to analyze how protesting is right in the eyes of him and his fellow men because of the way they are being treated. King says, “All Christians know that the colored people will receive equal rights eventually” (paragraph 25). By using the word “Christians” it points out and focuses on the priests because they are Christians. Therefore, they will feel a personal connection between what King is writing and their lives. King explains what is happening to African Americans during this time and the struggles they are going through in their day-to-day life, unlike these fellow clergymen. King says, “these disinherited children of God sat down at lunch counters, they were, in reality, standing up for what is best in the American dream” (paragraph 45). By connecting the “disinherited children of God” and the clergymen, and their people, King is telling them what they are doing is very wrong. King calls the fellow clergymen “Christian brothers” (paragraph 48) to make the clergymen feel a personal connection to King. Lastly, King says in his closing statement, “Let us all hope that the dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away and the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear-drenched communities” (paragraph 48). By using words like “dark clouds”, “deep fog”, and “drenched communities”, the clergymen understand how depressed the protesters are and how their lives are affected by their poor treatment of