Essay on A Letter From Birmingham V

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V. How are ethos, logos, and pathos developed? Cite an example of each from the reading.

Ethos, in historical times relates to ethics or ethical. In modern times it relates to the word “image”.
In this essay, Martin Luther king, appears like a person with goodwill, good sense when others seem to be confused in their minds and ideas. By the end of paragraph one he says:
“Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will.”

He is looking at others as people with good heart but confused in their own minds.

He projects himself as a peaceful human being in times when racial segregation existed.

His image is shaped by religious beliefs. He seems to respond fairly but with authority to objections. His authority came from being a member of the clergy and a respected leader of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. His audience would find him to be a credible speaker.

Logos, relates to logical arguments. It follows logic and rationality.
An example of a logical reasoning appears in paragraph two, when he writes that tension is necessary for progress…as follows:

“I had hoped that the white moderate would understand that law and order exist for the purpose of establishing justice and that when they fail in this purpose they become the dangerously structured dams that block the flow of social progress.”

It is very important for societies these days to follow this type of logical reasoning rather than only following the character of the speaker.

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