Know Thy Reader Essay -- Analysis, Letter from Birmingham Jail

Dr. Martin Luther ability, Jr.s earn from Birmingham Jail is a defense of the kind of non-violent direct action that King promoted and used during the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s. It is a response to statements of denunciation made by the clergymen of Birmingham, Alabama, and is obviously written in a focal point that appeals directly to this audience. King uses his knowledge of this audiences identity to design highly targeted arguments and to lead relevant historic examples for citation, and uses his personal experience in writing sermons and speeches to remodel moving sermon-like passages that complement and reinforce his arguments. The arguments basis in terms that the clergymen go away find to be familiar and agreeable, in combination with sympathy evoking references to historical events, is particularly effective in causing the clergymen to seriously reconsider their statements.The outline that stands out the most is Kings usage of religious references. He supports his arguments with passages from the Bible and statements or philosophies put forth by prominent theologians, such as St. doubting Thomas Aquinas. The clergy is truly familiar with these sources. Their entire belief system is based on them By using these sources as a basis for his arguments, King makes it very difficult for the clergy to disagree with the reasoning behind his actions. For example, in response to the kick that he and another(prenominal) protesters are outside agitators, he references the story of capital of Minnesota of Tarsuss mission to spread Christianity just as the Apostle Paul left his colonisation of Tarsus and carried the gospel of Jesus Christ to the far corners of the Greco-Roman world, so am I compelled to carry the gospel of freedom beyond my own h... ...rtight chicken coop of poverty in the midst of an affluent society. then you impart understand why we find it difficult to wait (166-167). In other words, he uses passages like these t o drive the point home.As a whole, garner from Birmingham Jail is a thorough and well-executed defense of non-violent protest. Even readers who do not need to be persuaded, readers who are already in general commensurateness with non-violent methods of protest, will still find deep insights into how this form of protest whole kit and caboodle (such as the concept of negative peace (169)), and why it is necessary. King combines the dodge of appealing to the audiences identity in various ways, powerful passages that reinforce arguments, and or so general deductive reasoning and insight to construct an argument that is very clear, rational, and effective in explaining and defending non-violent direct action.