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Rhetorical Analysis Of Letter From Birmingham Jail

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Chase Schwarz 11/19/17 English 1301 “Letter From Birmingham Jail” Martin Luther King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” is seen as one of the most inspiring and terrific pieces of persuasive writing in American history. The letter is written in response to the eight clergymen who originally wrote Martin Luther King Jr. because he believed them to be “men of genuine good will”, and wanted to establish himself as a prominent figure in the eyes of the law, as well as Americans all over. He also believed that blacks were being treated unjustly and wanted an immediate change. He was able to use Aristotle’s three different artistic appeals magnificently to express his many different points, and has a bit of each carefully worded throughout the letter. He does this not only as a way to convince the clergymen he is addressing, but to convince the audience he knows will be reading as well. This audience consists of moral, everyday Americans and plays a crucial role in how the letter was written and why each appeal is so important. …show more content…

This equal standing is one of the many points King tries to make, but certainly not the only one. King’s letter is written as a means of justifying his cause, as well as a means of displaying the unfair treatment of blacks in America. With his use of pathos, saying things such as “when you have seen hate-filled policeman curse, kick, and even kill your black brothers and sisters” makes an extremely heavy impact on the audience. Through his many uses of appeals, mainly his emotional appeal, he is able to convince his audience that not only are blacks not animals, but they are just like everyone

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