Letter From Birmingham Jail Analysis
English Writing
Mrs. Gary
03/04/14
Generational Influences
Martin Luther King, Jr’s message in “A Letter From Birmingham Jail” and Henry David Thoreau’s in “Civil Disobedience” are similar with minor differences. Both men agree it is a citizen’s duty to disobey an unjust law. King and Thoreau equally manifested their ability to protest by taking a peaceful approach, also accepting the repercussions that followed. King and Thoreau are prime examples on whether one is bound to always obey the law is increasingly important during periods of grossly immoral legislation and unjust institutions. King and Thoreau believe it is a citizen’s duty to navigate through legislature with their moral compass, however Thoreau does not believe …show more content…
Thoreau welcomed his repercussions and by doing so he was able to reflect on his cause. He spoke of when he was released from jail: “I saw to what extent the people among whom I lived could be trusted as good neighbors and friends; that their friendship was for summer weather only”(319). His point was people at best are unreliable, and it is important not to fall in that category. Thoreau’s experience produced clarity from within him that he was able to articulate and share with others, even if they did not agree. It was important to Thoreau that people of the U.S. understood going along with injustices was just as immoral as supporting them. King was trying to achieve the same effect on the clergymen and the city of Birmingham; he was in need of reliable authority figures to help stand up against segregation. King wanted the clergymen to see the hypocrisy in being content with segregation running its course. Both Thoreau and King were not only willing to accept the consequences for their actions, they both utilized that time which led to a cultural impact on our society which we still talk about and experience today. Both Thoreau and King pointed out hypocrisies their audiences were guilty of; for Thoreau, speaking of an injustice while standing idle was one of the worst actions a person could take. King’s audience was the clergymen, who said his actions were extreme. In order for King to point out their hypocrisy he used Jesus as an example, asking was He not an extremist as
Mrs. Gary
03/04/14
Generational Influences
Martin Luther King, Jr’s message in “A Letter From Birmingham Jail” and Henry David Thoreau’s in “Civil Disobedience” are similar with minor differences. Both men agree it is a citizen’s duty to disobey an unjust law. King and Thoreau equally manifested their ability to protest by taking a peaceful approach, also accepting the repercussions that followed. King and Thoreau are prime examples on whether one is bound to always obey the law is increasingly important during periods of grossly immoral legislation and unjust institutions. King and Thoreau believe it is a citizen’s duty to navigate through legislature with their moral compass, however Thoreau does not believe …show more content…
Thoreau welcomed his repercussions and by doing so he was able to reflect on his cause. He spoke of when he was released from jail: “I saw to what extent the people among whom I lived could be trusted as good neighbors and friends; that their friendship was for summer weather only”(319). His point was people at best are unreliable, and it is important not to fall in that category. Thoreau’s experience produced clarity from within him that he was able to articulate and share with others, even if they did not agree. It was important to Thoreau that people of the U.S. understood going along with injustices was just as immoral as supporting them. King was trying to achieve the same effect on the clergymen and the city of Birmingham; he was in need of reliable authority figures to help stand up against segregation. King wanted the clergymen to see the hypocrisy in being content with segregation running its course. Both Thoreau and King were not only willing to accept the consequences for their actions, they both utilized that time which led to a cultural impact on our society which we still talk about and experience today. Both Thoreau and King pointed out hypocrisies their audiences were guilty of; for Thoreau, speaking of an injustice while standing idle was one of the worst actions a person could take. King’s audience was the clergymen, who said his actions were extreme. In order for King to point out their hypocrisy he used Jesus as an example, asking was He not an extremist as