Martin Luther King Jr. had been imprisoned for eight days in the Birmingham Jail in Alabama. In these eight days, he would write one of the most renowned rhetorical works that would be studied for years. He had written this on stolen paper while confined in a jail cell in response to the criticism and false accusations made about their whole movement by eight white clergymen. He brought attention to the protest and emphasized that there would never be a better time for this; action needs to be taken now. King would persuade the audience through the use of logic and objective evidence supporting his argument; he is able to further emphasize his point by frequently utilizing metaphors and juxtapositions. This is one of the most effective ways he convinced his audience, as it would be difficult …show more content…
He is hoping that with their ability to distinguish between right and wrong, they will be able to see injustice for what it really is and how wrong it is, thus taking the actions needed to cure this boil. His use of metaphors helps the audience realize how long people have been suffering from injustice and how they have suffered to the point where they need to bring it to public attention. He is able to inform the audience that they are the ones that the people depend on to bring about change; they are the natural medicines that will help cure the sickness, and they can do so by recognizing what is causing the boil and dealing with it. Although this will be uncomfortable, similar to the extensive process of treating an actual boil, it is required for the healing process. This excellent use of metaphors helps the audience understand how long people have to hide their sickness and how they, the audience, are responsible for helping them and taking decisive actions, as they are the ones the people are calling out for