“Letter from a Birmingham Jail” Analysis. Martin Luther King Essay- by EduBirdie

Table of Contents

Introduction

Reasons for Being in Birmingham

Reason for Breaking Laws

“Letter from a Birmingham Jail”: Analysis of Historical Figures

“Letter from Birmingham Jail”: Conclusion

Assessment on “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” Analysis. Martin Luther King Essay

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Introduction

In 1963, Martin Luther King Jr (MLK) australian edubirdie reviews, one of the United States’ most famous civil rights activists in Birmingham, was imprisoned for his participation in a civil rights demonstration in the city. While in prison, Dr. King wrote a letter seeking to address some criticism brought against him by the clergy. This letter from Birmingham Jail analysis essay shall highlight some of the issues discussed in the historic letter including King’s reason for being in Birmingham and why he felt compelled to break the law.

Reasons for Being in Birmingham

The analysis of “Letter from Birmingham Jail” will help to answer the first question that Dr. King addresses in the letter which is the reason why he is in Birmingham city. This was in light of the fact that he was from Atlanta, and some of his critics, therefore, considered him an outsider to Birmingham. Dr. King asserts that his presence in Birmingham is as a result of a direct invitation by some affiliated organizations across the South.

As the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Dr. King feels that it is his duty to work together with his organization’s affiliates . King further states that his presence in the city is due to the injustices and tension that exist therein. He is compelled to be there to offer aid to those who he feels have been wronged by the system for as he declares, “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

Reason for Breaking Laws

Martin Luther King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” analysis will also help to define the reasons for breaking laws. Dr. King comes under attack for violating the laws of the land. His critics condemn the demonstration that King is involved in since they violate Birmingham’s laws and cause unrest. Dr. King admonishes his critics for failing to consider the social realities that have necessitated the demonstrations by the Negro community.

While acknowledging that negotiations are more suitable, King illustrates that past negotiations have failed to yield any fruitful results. Direct action is, therefore, seen as the only way through which the nation’s conscience to the racial realities of America can be awakened. Dr. King also points out that most of the laws in place, such as segregation and denial of rights to votes for some groups, are unjust.

These laws are immoral, and King affirms that he can, with a clean conscience, urge people to disobey such requirements. As such, King’s main point advocates for the obedience of the law as he acknowledges that lack of law would lead to anarchy. However, he encourages the public breaking of unjust laws to arouse the conscience of the community over the particular injustices.

“Letter from a Birmingham Jail”: Analysis of Historical Figures

In order to analyze “Letter from Birmingham Jail” substantially, historical figures should be reviewed. Dr. King mentions a number of historical figures to support his line of action. In the letter, King points to Jesus, who was branded as an “extremist for love” and subsequently crucified for the same. Paul, an avid follower of Jesus who is credited with the early spreading of the Christian gospel, is also mentioned in the letter. Martin Luther, the German priest who played the main role in standing up against the ancient Roman Catholic Church practices, is also referenced.

History ?

Mr. King also refers to John Bunyan, who was imprisoned for his beliefs and willingly stayed in jail other than perverting his conscience. The United States president Abraham Lincoln, whose administration led to the abolishment of slavery, is also referenced in King’s letter. The letter https://www.yelp.com/biz/edubirdie-wilmington also cites Thomas Jefferson, whose words in the declaration of independence asserted that all men are created equal.

The summary of the letter shows that all of the historical figures that Dr. King refers to were branded as extremists in their time, but as history demonstrates, they were all men of integrity, and their “extremism” brought about necessary change and inspiration to the people.

“Letter from Birmingham Jail”: Conclusion

This paper is set out to analyze the letter to highlight some of significant issues that Dr. King sets out to address. This essay has explained the reasons why King was in Birmingham city, his reasons for advocating the breaking of the law, and the various historical figures with whom Dr. King related. From the critical analysis of Martin Luther King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” provided in this paper, a better understanding of Dr. King’s motives and his reasoning can be reached.

“How I Learned to Drive” by Paula Vogel Essay- by EduBirdie

Introduction

The play “How I learned to drive” is written by the playwright Paula Vogel and won her a Pulitzer award for drama in 1998. The play revolves around the theme of social and familial relationship where there is sexual predation and manipulation. The play follows the sexual relationship that goes on between Lil’ Bit and her Uncle Peck from the time she was eleven years old.

Essay on “How I Learned to Drive” by Paula Vogel

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Their relationship is strained, with her uncle seeking sexual favors from her while she manipulates him wanting to learn how to drive. Her aunt, Peck’s wife, is in denial of her husband’s sitejabber.com/reviews/edubirdie.com behavior and does little to stop this molestation (Vogel 19). The book also follows issues on misogyny and alcoholism, which seem to be dominant in the family.

Does the time and place in which the play takes places have any additional relevance?

The play is set in the 1960’s a period where family life was based on the traditional setting where a husband, male in the house, was dominant over the rest of the family. This is significant because it explains why Uncle Peck’s wife did not intervene though there were clear signs that his intentions towards Lil’ Bit were questionable. This is also shown through the relationship her grandparents had. Her grandfather was a sexist while her grandmother was a god fearing former child bride.

The play is also based on family relationships. The play shows how the family members can be their own worst enemies. In a family it is expected that the older generation should take care of the young one but in the case of Lil’ Bit her uncle preys on her sexually and even proposes to marry her under the disguise of waiting for her to turn eighteen.

What techniques used to move the plot forward make it interesting and/or unusual?

The playwright delivers her work in an uneven mixture of several styles. She uses flashbacks, narration, and monologues. This helps to make the story more interesting and at the same time deliver the themes of the play in a unique and interesting way. The play starts with Lil’ Bit as a grown up adult and shows her giving a talk on how to drive. She then describes her town Maryland during her young age in the 1960’s and follows this with a setting of her and her uncle sitting in a car in 1969.

The then seventeen-year-old Li’l Bit moves next to Uncle Peck who acts like a little child and tells her he has not drank alcohol in a week. As a reward for his behavior, she rewards him by letting him undo her bra. After leaving the parking lot, Li’l Bit is the one driving the car. In one of the flashbacks, Li’l Bit recalls of a family dinner in 1969, where the dinner conversation revolved around how big her breasts had become. Her sexist grandfather makes jokes about her breasts size and this makes her to flee the room.

Uncle Peck follows her and after consoling her EduBirdie Reviews, they arrange to meet later in the night. Though Uncle Peck molests her sexually, she is fond of him because she feels that both of them are the outcasts in the family and he is the only family member who is nice to her (Vogel 25).

Plays ?

Lastly, are you moved this play? if so why? If not, why not?

The play is moving and through the story of Li’l Bit, we learn about the various evils that sometimes happen in a family. We see her being sexually molested by her uncle Peck who seeks sexual favors from her and her grandfather who makes fun of her sexuality regarding the size of breasts. Against all reasoning, we see her forgiving her uncle and she feels sorry for his miserable life. She also appreciates him for teaching her how to drive and attributes this to the freedom she feels when she drives.

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Works Cited

Vogel, Paula. How I learned to drive. New York, NY: Dramatists Play Service, 1998. Print