The Rhetoric of Pathos in the Writings of Dr. Martin...

The Rhetoric of Pathos in the Writings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I have a dream, says Dr. Samuel Proctor, Martin Luther King, Jr. Professor Emeritus of Rutgers University. All the little children--you hear everywhere you go: I have a dream. All the little children repeating that speech. Its become like the Star Spangled Banner or the Pledge of Allegiance. Its entered our culture. And so it has: I have a dream has become one of the most memorable phrases of the twentieth century. Of all the many speeches delivered at the Lincoln Memorial on that hot, steamy day of August 28, 1963, no other remarks have had such an impact as those of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His words reflected then, and continue to do so now, the†¦show more content†¦When white ministers protested the Southern Christian Leadership Conferences decision to pursue non-violent but direct action in Birmingham in April 1963, Dr. King, in his written response, drew widely upon Biblical, theological, and historical references in the development of his defense. Always believing that the fundamental justification for direct action was to be found in Christian scripture, Dr. King cites both Old Testament and New Testament references supporting his claim that there is nothing new about this kind of civil disobedience (Letter, 294). He notes, It was seen sublimely in the refusal of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to obey the laws of Nebuchadnezzar because a higher moral law was involved. It was practiced superbly by the early Christians who were willing to face hungry lions and the excruciating pain of chopping blocks, before submitting to certain unjust laws of the Roman Empire (294). In defense of the charges that SCLC protests precipitate violence, Dr. King asks, Isnt this like condemning Jesus because His unique God-consciousness and never-ceasing devotion to His will precipitated the evil act of crucifixion? (295-296) While his most memorable address is punctuated with such poignant themesShow MoreRelatedRhetorical Analysis Of Letter From Birmingham Jail1843 Words   |  8 Pagesjail cell? Some might see restraints blocking them off from the rest of the world, feel cold metal or scratchy cloth against their skin, or experience the stench of sweat and despair. Martin Luther King Jr. saw a quiet place to write. After being arrested under the charge of â€Å"parading without a permit,† Dr. King used his eleven days in the Birmingham City Jail to respond to one specific instance of criticism through a letter geared to each of the many audiences that needed to learn about the desegregationRead MorePersuasive Speech : Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.1334 Words   |  6 PagesIn any good speech, the most important part of the speech is not what is said during the speech, but what the audience feels and remembers after the speech was over. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a powerful advocate of Africa n American rights, was an expert at convincing his audience to feel and react to his speeches however he wanted them to. One of the main ways he achieved this was through the use of the artistic proofs. The ‘artistic proofs’ is a term coined by the ancient greek philosopherRead MoreLetter from Birmingham Jail Rhetorical Analysis- Martin Luth Essay1384 Words   |  6 Pages Martin Luther King, Jr. Analytical Essay Violence, force, bribery. These are just the few of the many ways figures all throughout history have come to implement their ideas among others. Whether it be through force or logic, there needs to be some form for persuasion to pass of your claim. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., promoter of social justice, utilized rhetorical strategies to persuade his opponents of his claims. When Dr. King received a letter fromRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King Jr s Letter From Birmingham Jail1831 Words   |  8 PagesPersuasive writing is most effective when all three rhetorical appeals, Logos, Pathos, and Ethos, come together to form an indisputable argument. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X are two of the most influential figures of the past few decades; similarly, their work is summarized as some of the most persuasive and controversial of all time. The audience of both of their pieces, â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail† and â€Å"The Ballot or the Bullet† include oppressed African Americans and the white oppressorsRead MoreArgumentative Synthesis Letter from Birmingham Jail1535 Words   |  7 Pagesvision such as Rev. Dr. Luther King Jr. Kings letter from Birmingham reflects his opinion that peace and non-violence were vital in achieving desegregation and important human rights for African Americans throughout the nation during the 1960’s. The â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail† was an appeal to the general African American population to lay down their weapons and rest their spite filled minds. He uses pleas to emotions, logic and to history in order to portray his vision. 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Readers can perceive this by the diction that Dr. King practices, like â€Å"Negro,† which was used around that time and still being used. One can also see through the context of his letter that Dr. King wants equality for the African-American community. Martin Luther King s intention of writing this letter is trying to convince the clergymen thatRead MoreA Rhetorical Analysis Of Dr. Martin Luther King On The Church1256 Words   |  6 PagesAnalysis: Dr. King on the Church Missionary and Professor Charles Porter vocalizes a profound point during a lecture, â€Å"The only person who justifies us is Jesus.† This speaks measures regarding the Church and their responsibility to uphold justice. As people who claim to follow Jesus, the Church should be leading the charge against injustice. However, in the past century it failed to act upon the injustice of segregation. Analyzing Letter from Birmingham Jail, it becomes clear that Dr. Martin LutherRead MoreLetters From A Birmingham Jail And Trial By Civil Racism Essay1633 Words   |  7 Pagesnation. In Letters from a Birmingham Jail, Martin Luther King Jr. describes the various injustices against citizens of African American descent, and describes the need for actions to be taken against them. Similarly, in Trial by Fire, David Grann describes the injustices within the judicial system about falsely incriminating inmates and convicting innocent people of the death penalty. Both authors use various typ es of rhetoric including telos, kairos, pathos, logos, and ethos, to help enforce theirRead MoreMartin Luther King Jr., â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail†3011 Words   |  13 Pages[Subject] [Date] Martin Luther king Jr., â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail† Outline 1. Introduction i) Argument about â€Å"Justice and injustice† ii) Religious appeals in King’s latter iii) Paragraph fourteen of King’s latter 2. Discussion 3. Conclusion Introduction The pressure of racial segregation was reaching a boiling point in 1963 in Birmingham, Alabama. After being arrested for his part in the Birmingham Campaign, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote an open letter