Question

Read this passage from King’s “Letter from Birmingham City Jail.” In what way is King using parallelism in this paragraph? In your statement you assert that our actions, even though peaceful, must be condemned because they precipitate violence. But is this a logical assertion? Isn't this like condemning a robbed man because his possession of money precipitated the evil act of robbery? Isn't this like condemning Socrates because his unswerving commitment to truth and his philosophical inquiries precipitated the act by the misguided populace in which they made him drink hemlock? Isn't this like condemning Jesus because his unique God-consciousness and never-ceasing devotion to God's will precipitated the evil act of crucifixion? We must come to see that, as the federal courts have consistently affirmed, it is wrong to urge an individual to cease his efforts to gain his basic constitutional rights because the quest may precipitate violence. Society must protect the robbed and punish the robber.

He is using a cause-effect relationship to organize his ideas.

He is using a contrast between logical and illogical arguments about violence.

He is beginning his supporting details by repeating the phrase “isn’t this like condemning….”

He is giving many examples of details to support his main idea.

Answer 1

He is beginning his supporting details by repeating the phrase “isn’t this like condemning….”

Parallel structure is the repetition of a specific grammatical structure to create a cohesive list. It can also include the repetition of beginning words or phrases to help create the parallel structure. Each of the rhetorical questions King asks that starts "Isn't this like condemning..." is a supporting detail to show that throughout history people have made peaceful advances for good that precipitated violence. These people would not now be seen as criminals or worthy of condemnation. He is arguing that his peaceful actions are not to be condemned just because others choose to be violent as a result.