Comparative Analysis Essay - I Have a Dream and Letters from Birmingham Jail

Tallly Romaine

Mr. Garcia-1

AP English 11

13 February 2016

                                    Comparative Analysis Essay

        Dr. Martin Luther king Jr. in his writing, “I Have a Dream,” and “Letters from Birmingham Jail,” both include to an extent a substantial amount of content and style. Though both hold a significant importance, it is content that holds a heavier weight upon what Dr. King writes. This is because without substance, writing would never be able to have its style because there would be nothing to write about. Often, the idea of style is more important, because we often judge based on appearance, and this principal is often used outside writing, such as how people look at their leaders and their lives, the products we buy, or the books we read. However, content is what ultimately makes a piece of writing prominent. And even though they do reciprocate each other, it is only in a way that enhances the overall message in Kings writing. Therefore side by side, the message continues to outweighs the style of the writing, but combined ultimately intensifies the texts message greatly. Furthermore, content is in fact is more important than style.

        Martin Luther King’s works illustrate pathological appeals, prolonged arguments, and

enlightening ideas throughout each text. In “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, his position as an African American who is strongly advocating for racial equality begins with the explanation of his message, after he refines it with stylistic components. Doing this, strengthens his argument, thus making him appear with more power in his writing. For example, Dr. King begins his claim by explaining the racial inequality and injustices surrounding Birmingham. Then he improves his point with the use of the scheme, antithesis, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny.”  Upon doing this it then strengthens Dr. Kings initial stance and enhances it upon adding a stylistic feature.

        In Dr. Kings speech, “I Have a Dream” he stands before many people in order to prove the injustices that are being thrown against African Americans. After he proves himself he strengthens his argument with the use or anaphoras. An example was on paragraph 2 how he constantly mentioned, “One hundred years later,” he did this in order to stress the prolonged issue that has been carrying on against African Americans for years. Doing this ultimately puts more emphasis on the segregation against Blacks, and establishes what must be fixed. Another example, was in paragraphs 5-6, “Now is the time,” and he uses this after he situates his position, in order to show that since he has already presented the issue, he then is insisting that it must be fixed. The use of this anaphora also foreshadows his message more and also leads to his use on multiple other anaphoras.

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