The paper begins with a
background to the letter and a synopsis of its main points. It looks at the three different
audiences
that the letter intends to address, explores the tone of
authority used by King and discusses the moral and political statements he uses in his defense. The effectiveness of King's appeal to the emotions of his fellow black American countrymen is also dealt with. The paper concludes by investigating the elements of "ethos" (appeals based on validity and character) and the elements of "pathos" (appeals to emotions) contained in the letter.