More handpicked essays just for you.
Henry thoreau and martin luther king similarties and differences
Henry thoreau and martin luther king similarties and differences
Individualism versus Collectivism thesis
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
There is one undeniable fact about life: Human Rights are a necessity. It is basic and bare minimum, yet we have struggled to respect those rights in the History of America and the history of the world as a whole. We have seen many activists focus on this topic, many of whom have made life easier for those whose differences seem to refuse them refuge, two of whom are Martin Luther King Jr., and Elie Wiesel. King and Wiesel were legendary activists whose ability to share stories of trauma and pain led to social change. King and Wiesel use literary devices such as repetition and metaphors to convey a message of equality and peace throughout their speeches.
While Thoreau’s admiration for the true human spirit and self-reliance is admirable it is also problematic because it is from a privileged viewpoint. Thoreau is also a hyper intelligent, able-bodied man in the early 19th century. And Fredrick Douglass might also represent a privileged viewpoint because he was able to recognize forms of the system that was constructed around him because of his hyper intelligence. While reading and exploring thought elevated his self-reliance and independence it was his own personal intelligence and determination to be able to dismantle his social barriers. While I do not believe Douglass is the only slave to push back on his physical and mental bondage, it can be assumed that it was not the norm of American Slavery because then slavery might
Elie Wiesel and Martin Luther King Jr. use a passionate, direct tone as well as repetition to convey the need for equality and a sense of urgency. Wiesel’s speech was encouraging and touching when he used words like “kingdom of night” and “desperately” to make the readers feel sympathy that could change their minds about the world. He spoke confidently and his words were direct, which was all trying to address that “we must always take sides” or the world won’t ever change. If we stay silent and take no positions, the country will have a greater chance of failing because no one is willing to make a difference. In the same way, King wants to influence the way people view and act upon the world.
Martin Luther King and Elie Wiesel both use imagery to show the oppression and cruelties of what happened to their people. Both speakers use repetition to give messages of change, although King uses more hopeful messages to inspire positive changes rather than the sorrowful influence used by Wiesel. Both speakers try to give the audience reasons to grow and change. Elie Wiesel uses literary elements to show the sorrow and oppression of the acts committed against the Jews. Elie uses imagery to talk about his past while he is prejudiced for being a Jew.
Elie Wiesel and Martin Luther King both gave speeches to express and remind the people of immense issues We have committed in our history using literary elements such as themes about freedom and prominent Diction about even children being mistreated. Both incredibly influential people had to go through atrocities We the people have let happen. It was a call for help and a way to always remind everyone to never forget what They and their people went through.
In my opinion Henry David Thoreau and Martin Luther King Jr. have very similar purposes in their writings. Both author 's are writing to protest unfair laws. But they also have very different audiences. In Civil Disobediance, Thoreau writes how those who break unjust laws should suffer the consequences as a protest to the laws.
Thoreau vs. Ben Franklin Henry David Thoreau and Ben Franklin are both very different in beliefs but are still both considered great writers in American History. Their religious views for one were very different but both were wise for the world they were in. They also had some similarities on the nature of man and society. Henry David Thoreau believed in Transcendentalism, which is coming one with nature and humans should be self reliant.
Martin Luther King Jr VS Henry David Thoreau What is a transcendentalist? A transcendentalist is a radical logical and social movement that developed in New England around 1836. Henry Thoreau was a transcendentalist and was also a famous author where he wrote during the transcendentalist time. On the other hand Martin Luther King Jr was a person that fought for everybody to be equal. He had a speech called “I Had A Dream" Whereas Henry Thoreau and Martin Luther King Jr are different as Henry Thoreau didn't pay poll taxes and was an author of the 19th century, while Martin Luther King Jr was taking part in the civil right marches and role model in the 20th century, they are also similar as they both spent a day in jail, were transcendentalists, and well educated.
People could portray anything in different ways. Thoreau and King both have differences in portraying civil disobedience. In Thoreau’s essay “Civil Disobedience” he begins writing about how the government rarely shows how powerful it is and instead acquires power from the people. King used civil disobedience as a means of effectuating government change and used his courage to protest against discrimination through the act of civil disobedience.
Henry Thoreau and Martin Luther King Jr. both opposed slavery. Martin Luther King Jr. was a Baptist minister, known for his leadership in the Civil Rights Movement using nonviolence. Henry Thoreau a leading transcendentalist that lived along in a house that he built himself on the shore of Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts. Martin Luther King Jr. known for his memorable speech at Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C.
In Martin Luther King, Jr.’s essay, “Letter From a Birmingham Jail” and Henry David Thoreau essay “Civil Disobedience,” both share their opinions on social injustice and civil disobedience. They both believe that people can protest unfair and unjust laws imposed on them in a civil way. In addition, King and Thoreau are challenging the government with their essays, which they wrote after they got sent to jail. For protesting the treatment of blacks in Birmingham, Alabama, King spent eleven days in jail; Thoreau spent a night in jail for refusing to pay his poll tax. Both King and Thoreau’s essays present similar plans for a resolution.
The modern “American Dream” is the belief that those who are determined will achieve their dreams of success - an idea that dates back to early American writings, specifically of Benjamin Franklin and Henry Thoreau. The idea of meritocracy can be traced back to Founding Father Benjamin Franklin and his autobiography, published in 1791, which explained his thoughts on topics such as religion and moral character. In order to become a more morally grounded person, Franklin “determined to give a week’s strict attention to each of the virtues” (Franklin), and proceeded to advance in each virtue through the course of thirteen weeks. Franklin believed that dedicated focus and hard work would ultimately result in the realization of his aspirations.
In order to be an effective and powerful speaker and to be able to influence your audience, you must be able to think in a more abstract manner. Both Henry David Thoreau and Mahatma Gandhi have mastered this ability to sway their followers and become elite leaders with the use of different grammatical strategies. Mahatma was born in Porbandar, India, which is a coastal town in eastern India. In a different region of the hemisphere, Thoreau was born in Concord Massachusetts. While being born on opposite sides of the world, both of these men had the same goal in mind.
Compare and Contrast Between the 2 articles on similar themes, there are 4 reasons. (1) Gandhi and Thoreau both would not agree in certain things like laws. (2) Gandhi and Thoreau discussed civil disobedience. (3) Gandhi and Thoreau were influenced in writing their expressions, and how both wrote their expressions against the government and laws. Gandhi and Thoreau have different perspectives of the laws, and what people should follow.
One of the greatest leaders that greatly impacted society and still influences culture today is Mahatma Gandhi. Mahatma Gandhi was an advocate for peaceful resistance, he believed in standing up against injustices with peace. On the contrary, there is another great author who impacted society with his literature, and his name is Henry David Thoreau. Henry Thoreau believed in a much different manner of resisting in society. He believed in nonconforming and breaking the law.
