Martin Luther King’s “Letter from Birmingham jail” is a mix of emotional passion and logical precision that seeks to achieve meaningful cause. The letter was a response to white clergy who were critical of his intention in Birmingham naming him an “outsider”. King’s response to critics through a letter explains his arguments vividly and effectively. King wrote the letter in a way that he agreed with his critics, nonetheless still using their words against them in logic harmony. King’s letter illustrates the three artistic proofs used to convince an audience. This paper will discuss the ethos, pathos, and logos modes of persuasion as well as writing structure as seen in King’s “The letter from Birmingham jail”.
King’s letter demonstrates his clear logic, empathetic prose, sense of self, as maintained by high moral ground. His letter evokes ethical appeal for two main reasons; the language used is ethical and suits the topic, and the words come from a credible source. King is to be forgiven for saying, “Right defeated is stronger than evil triumphant” because this word may seem provocative (Jnr, 2012). However, these words are persuasive and used in the right context. According to Aristotle, ethos is developed when one chooses to use language that is suitable for the audience, and when the same words makes the person sound fair or unbiased (Aristotle, 2012). He uses historical facts to justify the reason why injustice prevails, and not his own opinion. He says, “Lamentably, it is an historical fact that the privileged groups seldom give their privileges voluntarily” (Jnr, 2012). Additionally, King uses logic views not to negate or dismantle the opinions of his critics, but to embrace and adjust the perspective of the very same critic. For instance, when the clergies

ask for negotiations and not direct path, King justifies his actions by saying that the