Rhetorical Devices In Letter From Birmingham Jail

The letter from Birmingham jail by Dr. Marin Luther King was written as a response of King to ten criticisms made against the Southern Christian leaders and King’s participation in demonstration in Birmingham. King handled many rhetorical devices to convince his opponents such as white clergymen with his rights to protest and create tension for direct action to achieve the racial justice. The devices fluctuate between logos and ethos in clever way to appeal to his audience and criticize them at the same time. King provided logical supports such as biblical figures historical and philosophical references. In my essay, I will point out some of the rhetorical devices and the colorful words used by King. First of all, King mentioned that

King emphasized that policemen who used the curse young and old women Negroes, who handled un-human ways to treat Negroes in jails and who use fierce methods to deal with nonviolence Negroes didn’t deserve any commends. Kings stated that “I am sorry that I can’ join you in your praise for the police department”. King didn’t believe that clergymen commended the oppressor and blamed the victims. He enforced them to face their false praise for the hands of segregation. In addition, He urged them to perceive that their praising for the brutality could aggravate the discrimination. In this part King used logic device to illustrate his opponent with their un-fair status. King also handled Ethos device when he expressed his opposition to the clergymen and said “I am sorry”. He was well educated person and he attracted his opponent by respecting them. King practiced an Ethos way when he said “Will we be extremists for the preservation of injustice”. King didn’t say ”Will you be extremists for the preservation of injustice”. King wanted to generalize that anyone sustained the injustice, he would consider as an extremist. King didn’t want to offend the clergymen who were the real extremists. This was another way to respect the audience. King used the Ethos device when he thanked white people stood before the Negroes. He said “I am thankful, however, that some of our white brothers have grasped the meaning of this social revolution”. King used elegant way to attract more whites to his side. He showed them how he appreciated their suffering from police violence because they loved Negros. Also, King said that “I am afraid that it is much too long to take your precious time”. He handled the Ethos device to illustrate that their time is as important as the topic he was arguing