What would you do if it was considered an illicit crime to speak out against laws that prohibit freedom for a specific race? How would you react to this? In Dr, King's letter, he advocates for change while refuting an article's claim that he is "untimely and unwise." King uses literary devices to establish his purpose of changing and abolishing injustice in the streets of Birmingham. After being filled with broken promises, he had no choice but to start doing things through his new ideas that consist of: tension, his 4-step plan, and non-violence. While writing this letter, King uses various rhetorical devices and appeals to argue that his activities are not "unwise and untimely". In his letter, King establishes credibility and claims that …show more content…
Conclusively, with the use of rhetorical concepts, King supports the claim that civil disobedience has consistently been used for unjust laws. King uses pathos and imagery to leave the reader feeling a call to action about the injustices in Birmingham. King states that they should “...lift [their] national policy...the quicksand of racial injustice...” This metaphor means that racial inequality is spreading rapidly, and one needs to stop it. On top of that, this is a call to action. This is critical because it gives a sense of urgency. The description of the “...quicksand of racial injustice” and the “...solid rock of human dignity...” paints a picture of the real-life issues of society. Moreover, King also uses pathos and emotional language to get the reader's attention. In addition, it pulls at the reader’s heartstrings. Dr. King uses words such as “destructively” and “appalling silence” to help us understand what King is trying to convey. Emotional language helps to get the reader to understand what is truly happening. Furthermore, this helps us feel what Dr. King feels. Overall, with emotional language and imagery, King demonstrates that the need to protest for justice is necessary and