Civil Disobedience Between Thoreau and King
Civil disobedience is the active, public, conscientious breach of the law to bring about a change in law or public policy. The civil disobedience portrayed in Letter From Birmingham Jail employs several rhetorical strategies that are strong in influencing critics of his views on racial civil disobedience. Martin Luther King Jr.'s essay appeals to the spiritual, emotional, and logical side of his audience. King uses religion, given the fact that he is trying to persuade Christians. Second, Dr. King appeals to ethos, he tries to appeal to their human and goodness side. Third, King employs analogies to emphasize his argument against racism. His campaign to end segregation at lunch counters and segregated hiring practices caught the attention of millions when authorities attacked the peaceful campaigners. King was incarcerated with a large number of his supporters, along with a few black students. When a white clergy opposed to Kings position on non-violence resistance, King sent a letter to state his philosophy of nonviolence disobedience. In his letter, King conveys the struggles faced by African americans during this time and the need for change. Luther thinks that Negroes have injustice compared to the whites in terms of political and economic rights. Henry David Thoreau was a philosopher and writer best known for his attacks on American social institutions and the importance of individuality and self-reliance. He practiced civil disobedience in his own life and spent a night in jail on July of 1846 for his refusal to pay taxes in protest of the Mexican War. He was against slavery and war in Mexico and refused to pay the government tax for the war. It is thought that this night in jail prompted Thoreau to write Civil Disobedience. Thoreau appeals to the logic of what the government is able and not able to accomplish. The ethical appeals for the protest against the government is that people should choose their own government that suits them. Finally, he demonstrates emotional appeal by stating some of the things that the government do for the people.Henry David Thoreau and Martin Luther King Jr. both attempt to argue for the rights to disobey authority if there is social injustice. Thoreau analyzes the duty and responsibility of citizens to protest and take action against corrupt laws of the government. Likewise, King conveys to his audience that the laws of the government against blacks are intolerable and that civil disobedience should be used as an instrument of freedom. Although Martin Luther King and Henry David Thoreau practices non-violent civil disobedience, they have many similarities and differences on how they approach the audience.
In “ Letter From Birmingham Jail” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s letter glances into the actuality of racial segregation in the 1960s. King shows literary statements using several rhetorical strategies. His first approach to reach his audience is through ethos. Although the letter was meant for the eight clergymen , it spoke to the whole nation. His strategy gives him the ability to persuade to the readers and his civil rights activists to feel compassion towards the injustice done to the Negro people. He hoped that wide majority of the white moderate would understand that the law and order exists for the purpose of establishing justice. He states the obvious points to ironically accuse his opponents. King is not only speaking for racism, but injustice in general. Luther gets his inspirations from the Bible's guidance to love his enemies.Majority of his letter really gets to the emotions of the audience. Many of the people during this time were Christians so he uses several verses with the sermons from the bible. He draws the attention of church leaders to the hardships of jail. He is saying that blacks had lives no better that the life in jail. Henry David Thoreau also thought injustice toward the American people was wrong.He refused to pay taxes to the American government for the war with Mexico. However, it was illegal to refuse to pay taxes which are owed to the government. Thoreau was arrested and thrown in jail. In his books, "Resistance to Civil Government", Thoreau issues civil disobedience against the government. One way to have an emotional connection with the audience is to have common experience. That is way he describes himself as a common taxpayer just like any other citizen. He appeals by citing what the government doesn't do. He states, “It doesn’t keep the country free. It does not settle the west. It does not educate.” He sees that majority rule runs the risk of over throwing the role of individual conscience.
King and Thoreau speak with several different tones that lets the audience understand where the author is coming from. In "Civil Disobedience," Thoreau speaks as a teacher, advisor, and advocate, while, King speaks as a minister, civil rights leader, advocate, and African American victim. The activists speak as sorts of advisors, but King speaks almost as a "holy" advisor because he is a minister. They similarly speak as advocates of civil disobedience, but Thoreau also portrays the fact that he speaks as a critic towards the government actions, when King is more respectful. King speaks as a victim of social injustice because of racial differences. Both speak with many different roles that connect the author with the audience. Luther tries to appeal to the audience by using logic and reasoning. In his letter, King tries to avoid flaws of the traditional Negro sermons by presenting his arguments in a logical way. By giving examples such as presenting the real scenario of the life of the Negro, he gains sympathy from church leaders and other readers. “ But when you see vicious mobs lynch your mothers and fathers at will and drown your sisters and brothers at whims…” King gives some examples of the tortures and suffering the African American had to go through. He only states the facts of what is currently happening to arouse sympathy. Henry Thoreau is appealing to the audience about the wrongdoings of the government. He appeals that government accomplishes nothing on its own. It would need the people of America to set a law. He uses logos here in order to portray how foolish it would be to give oneself over to the government being useless. For example,the government declared war on Mexico although most of the Americans does not want want war. “ The government is best when it governs least.” Thoreau asks for a better government who can relate with the people or no government at all. He assumes that people in prison are honest men for voicing their opinions, just like he did.
King uses ethos to convey the duty of morals as a human being. He wants moral justice to overcome the traditional norms which were unjust in nature. He believes that the value of the Christian religion is equality and mutual respect. The letter states “How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others?” The answer is that there are just and unjust laws. The white folks are complaining that African Americans are always causing a disturbance and breaking set law. However, there are laws to follow and not follow. King uses ethos appeal in reminding the reader about his role as a religious leader. Another important thing to note is this letter was written during a time of racial segregation, and the response was to religious leaders that were white. Also, calling them 'fellow clergymen' was ethical appeal of being an equal in status. Thoreau appeals that the audience should make the right decisions for themselves. He wants people to choose their own government that suits them. He believes one honest man can inspire others and asserts that each people shouldn’t support a wrongdoing.
Thoreau and King both speak to large audiences. They similarly speak as advocates of civil disobedience, but Thoreau also portrays the fact that he speaks as a critic towards the government actions, when King speak of the discrimination of a certain race. The two essays also have many differences of the analysis of ethos, pathos, and logos, but it is obvious that the overall purpose was to persuade the audiences that civil disobedience is necessary if there is social injustice.
Works Cited
King, Martin Luther. “ The Social Organization of Nonviolence.” A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King Jr. Ed. James Melvin. Washington. Harper Collins, 1991.
Thoreau, Henry D. “ On the Duty of Civil Disobedience.” Constitution Society. Web. Oct.-Nov. 2010. <www.constitution.org>
King, Martin Luther. “ Letter From Birmingham Jail.” The Atlantic Monthly; August 1963; The Negro Is Your Brother; Vol 212, No. 2; pages 78 - 88. <http://www.uscrossier.org/pullias/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/king.pdf>
In “ Letter From Birmingham Jail” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s letter glances into the actuality of racial segregation in the 1960s. King shows literary statements using several rhetorical strategies. His first approach to reach his audience is through ethos. Although the letter was meant for the eight clergymen , it spoke to the whole nation. His strategy gives him the ability to persuade to the readers and his civil rights activists to feel compassion towards the injustice done to the Negro people. He hoped that wide majority of the white moderate would understand that the law and order exists for the purpose of establishing justice. He states the obvious points to ironically accuse his opponents. King is not only speaking for racism, but injustice in general. Luther gets his inspirations from the Bible's guidance to love his enemies.Majority of his letter really gets to the emotions of the audience. Many of the people during this time were Christians so he uses several verses with the sermons from the bible. He draws the attention of church leaders to the hardships of jail. He is saying that blacks had lives no better that the life in jail. Henry David Thoreau also thought injustice toward the American people was wrong.He refused to pay taxes to the American government for the war with Mexico. However, it was illegal to refuse to pay taxes which are owed to the government. Thoreau was arrested and thrown in jail. In his books, "Resistance to Civil Government", Thoreau issues civil disobedience against the government. One way to have an emotional connection with the audience is to have common experience. That is way he describes himself as a common taxpayer just like any other citizen. He appeals by citing what the government doesn't do. He states, “It doesn’t keep the country free. It does not settle the west. It does not educate.” He sees that majority rule runs the risk of over throwing the role of individual conscience.
King and Thoreau speak with several different tones that lets the audience understand where the author is coming from. In "Civil Disobedience," Thoreau speaks as a teacher, advisor, and advocate, while, King speaks as a minister, civil rights leader, advocate, and African American victim. The activists speak as sorts of advisors, but King speaks almost as a "holy" advisor because he is a minister. They similarly speak as advocates of civil disobedience, but Thoreau also portrays the fact that he speaks as a critic towards the government actions, when King is more respectful. King speaks as a victim of social injustice because of racial differences. Both speak with many different roles that connect the author with the audience. Luther tries to appeal to the audience by using logic and reasoning. In his letter, King tries to avoid flaws of the traditional Negro sermons by presenting his arguments in a logical way. By giving examples such as presenting the real scenario of the life of the Negro, he gains sympathy from church leaders and other readers. “ But when you see vicious mobs lynch your mothers and fathers at will and drown your sisters and brothers at whims…” King gives some examples of the tortures and suffering the African American had to go through. He only states the facts of what is currently happening to arouse sympathy. Henry Thoreau is appealing to the audience about the wrongdoings of the government. He appeals that government accomplishes nothing on its own. It would need the people of America to set a law. He uses logos here in order to portray how foolish it would be to give oneself over to the government being useless. For example,the government declared war on Mexico although most of the Americans does not want want war. “ The government is best when it governs least.” Thoreau asks for a better government who can relate with the people or no government at all. He assumes that people in prison are honest men for voicing their opinions, just like he did.
King uses ethos to convey the duty of morals as a human being. He wants moral justice to overcome the traditional norms which were unjust in nature. He believes that the value of the Christian religion is equality and mutual respect. The letter states “How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others?” The answer is that there are just and unjust laws. The white folks are complaining that African Americans are always causing a disturbance and breaking set law. However, there are laws to follow and not follow. King uses ethos appeal in reminding the reader about his role as a religious leader. Another important thing to note is this letter was written during a time of racial segregation, and the response was to religious leaders that were white. Also, calling them 'fellow clergymen' was ethical appeal of being an equal in status. Thoreau appeals that the audience should make the right decisions for themselves. He wants people to choose their own government that suits them. He believes one honest man can inspire others and asserts that each people shouldn’t support a wrongdoing.
Thoreau and King both speak to large audiences. They similarly speak as advocates of civil disobedience, but Thoreau also portrays the fact that he speaks as a critic towards the government actions, when King speak of the discrimination of a certain race. The two essays also have many differences of the analysis of ethos, pathos, and logos, but it is obvious that the overall purpose was to persuade the audiences that civil disobedience is necessary if there is social injustice.
Works Cited
King, Martin Luther. “ The Social Organization of Nonviolence.” A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King Jr. Ed. James Melvin. Washington. Harper Collins, 1991.
Thoreau, Henry D. “ On the Duty of Civil Disobedience.” Constitution Society. Web. Oct.-Nov. 2010. <www.constitution.org>
King, Martin Luther. “ Letter From Birmingham Jail.” The Atlantic Monthly; August 1963; The Negro Is Your Brother; Vol 212, No. 2; pages 78 - 88. <http://www.uscrossier.org/pullias/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/king.pdf>
