Letter from Birmingham Jail Analysis

Stephen Simmons
AP English/Mr. George
10/14/09
Appeals Essay

Letter from Birmingham Jail Analysis

Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the most inspirational speakers and writers during the sixties. His words did not only move, but changed people in an indescribable manor. In his Letter from Birmingham Jail, King intertwined the three appeals as well as diction and syntax in order to send a message and to critique those who discriminated against himself and his race. In this letter, King peacefully touches the hearts of many by transferring his emotions through his writing. He most certainly had a gift, and the credentials to go along with it, which is one of the reasons as to why Kings argument is so persuasive. However, although character, talent, and the cause were very important aspects in creating this letter, Kings greatest appeal was his use of emotion throughout the text.
King’s argument captures the attention of the audience because of his aggressive and amazingly ego piercing use of emotion. He uses emotion in collaboration with logos to capture the heart and souls of his audience and to refute any arguments or points that can be made against him. Furthermore, King intertwines logic into his emotional, non conformist argument by referring to the frustration and pain of others, rather than an individual or himself. He also uses phrases such as, “When you have seen vicious mobs lynch your mothers and fathers at will and drown your sisters and brothers at whim”(King 742) and, “When you suddenly find your tongue twisted and your speech stammering as you seek to explain to your six-year-old daughter why she cant go to the public amusement park…”(742). Kings writing is home to so much emotion and diction such as “you” which is what ultimately carries his arguments. By using the word “you” he attempts to transfer his pain and his frustration to the audience so that they can feel what the black race is going to and so that they, the white moderate, might find it in their hearts to make a change and to belittle the racist tension in society.
However, although King so greatly paints a clear picture of the tragedies that occur each day in their society and builds his argument to a fantastic climax, he pauses in his speech, calming the tension between author and reader and then states his conclusion. King very intelligently does this after portraying his emotion to the reader which makes his argument all the more effective. He so peacefully but aggressively goes on with his argument and emotional examples and pauses so that his previously stated points simmer in the minds of the reader. “Then you will understand why we find it difficult to wait”(742). This is a very bold statement to make, especially considering all of the violent and gruesome images he fastened in the audience’s mind, which is what proves to the white moderate that he means business.
It is quite obvious that an average black man, or any man for that matter would be able to appeal such an argument as King’s in the fashion that he does. This is why King feels that it is necessary to establish his character to make the reader aware that he is qualified to make such an appeal. For starters, King was a black man in the sixties who was considered inferior due to the color of his skin. Furthermore, the white moderate during that time would not even think about listening to a black man, let alone consider what he has to say. King also is imprisoned at this time which worsens his circumstances a lot. It is crucial that King made his argument so precise and logical, because the audience would look for any wrong statement or idea in order to refute his argument. Kings racial background and his current situation does not help to strengthen his argument which is why he addresses the audience as his fellow clergymen, as well as addressing the fact that he is in fact a religious person himself, which is very important when he criticizes the church. In addition to that, King also referenced many intelligent, historical figures as well as what they said. All of these things act as patches for any holes that may be present in his argument. He most certainly lets the reader know that he is in fact a credible and daring individual.
By fusing all of these appeals together and by harping on mainly emotion, King created one of the most powerful arguments in history. By peacefully attacking the wrongs of the white moderate and incorporating aggressive diction and phrases such as “fear-drenched” and “victims of a broken promise” King is able to tell his story as well as correct societies as if he were standing right beside you. Through his syntax of the appeals and different sentences King was able to engrave terrible images into your head, as well as use logic and true facts to support it, making the fear all the more frightening.
There aren’t many words to describe the stupendous argument that King made throughout his letter, other than “mind-blowing.” Someone from that time period who harbored no respect from others and received the treatment of an animal, was able to chip the racial boundary of blacks and whites. King was not just an ordinary man who absorbed the hardships of the time, but something a little more than that. Through his astonishing use of emotion and a little logic here and there, as well as many other literary elements, King was able to breach the blockaded hearts of those who hated him. In addition, he did all of this with not one hint of violence or severe aggression. King was no different from you and me, but he had a goal, and because he raised this goal with so much love and emotion, we are where we stand today because of him.