Civil Disobedience Rhetorical Analysis

Henry David Thoreau wrote Civil Disobedience, which is about him trying to persuade citizens that their obligation is to contravene and correct the unfair laws of the government. Thoreau begins Civil Disobedience with the view point “That government is best which governs least”

The point of the essay is to encourage the reader to act upon their opinions. Thoreau believes that simply having an opinion or casting a vote doesn’t cause change in the world, so it is important that people take the necessary steps to fix the problems they face as a society.

Both, Thoreau and King, in their works “Civil Disobedience” and “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” successfully and effectively delineates arguments for the importance and necessity of civil disobedience. Although both essays present very similar ideas, it is important to note the similarities and differences which are evident through the use of language and the presentation of the arguments and ideas because if it were not for the proper use of language, tone, and presentation of the idea of civil disobedience in Dr. King’s letter, he might not have been successful in his campaign; Thoreau initially presented the idea of civil disobedience in 1848, but his contemporaries dismissed his political essays.

Have you ever felt a rule you had to follow was unjust? Have you ever felt your moral instinct tell you not to follow it? Prominent figures in American history, Martin Luther King Jr. and Henry David Thoreau, felt this way and decided to not follow the rules imposed on them by indulging in “civil disobedience”. Civil disobedience is the act of peacefully disobeying laws or customs with the purpose of combating moral injustice. This form of protest has proven to be quite effective in making change in history. In “Civil Disobedience” and the “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”, both Thoreau and King Jr. write their justification for their actions as well as their feelings regarding the particular disputed

When Thoreau walked from the prison door to the town common, he observed that “a change had to my eyes come over the scene- the town, and State, and country- greater than any that mere time could effect” (91-92). Thoreau was a perceptive man, meaning that he learned about his world by observing it. One night in prison made clearer to Thoreau the effects of disobedience on his place in society. Primarily, Thoreau’s night in prison allowed him to fully comprehend his relationship with the state, and with his peers.

The idea of justice can be arbitrary. It can generally be decided based on what is deemed fair by the people, and most of the time, by the lawmakers. However, Henry David Thoreau argues in his essay Civil Disobedience that the use of moral conscience to discern unjust laws, especially from the government, and to peacefully resist them, is what serves true justice. Having been imprisoned once due to his refusal to pay the Massachusetts poll tax that supports the war against Mexico, Thoreau, as a Transcendentalist, started writing in his journal about the laws that the government imposes on its people to support unjust causes (Jacobus 134). Civil Disobedience discusses a relevant historical context— the widespread slavery and the Mexican War

Henry David Thoreau's "Civil Disobedience" is an essay that attempts to persuade readers to oppose unjust government policies in general and the Mexican War and the institution of slavery in particular. Thoreau's argument seem anti-democratic on their face, particularly his disregard for majority opinion as expressed through elected representatives. But Thoreau reveals himself to be far more nuanced over the course of the essay. His fundamental respect for democracy and the Constitution coexists with a pervasive doubt about the integrity of politicians and the voting process, which significantly limits the ability of ordinary citizens to express their will in the first place.

Henry David Thoreau shows "Common Disobedience" as an equivalent and good man amongst his cherished siblings and sisters in the interest of tending to his administration's biggest issues. The selection alone be that as it may, talks really and altogether as a genuine American. In pretty much every part of his discourse; political, social, and monetary request, Thoreau addresses his assessments and convictions through his direct experience, man's most extreme essential social liberties and also inner will to help the advancement of another and good society.

Thoreau uses rhetorical devices in the "civil disobedience" to show crucial inequality within a country's government. Thoreau applies tone, diction, and imagery to point out the main factors that contributed to the crucial behavior of the government.

Thoreau did not pay poll tax for six years. He was then thrown in jail. Yet he seemed surprised by that fact that the government would throw him in jail for not paying taxes. While lamenting the fact that he is in jail, Thoreau also offers many philosophical rumblings about the government and expects the readers of his essay to take any of what he says seriously despite the fact that he is not qualified whatsoever to reflect of the state of the country's political system.

Civil Disobedience In Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau, Thoreau discusses his feelings on the proposal that people need to openly resist the government. Thoreau explains that a government shouldn’t intrude into men’s lives, that the government is only an expedient, meaning it’s merely a means to an end. He describes the need for a government thata leaves the people of the United States alone, that “…government is best which governs least”. Thoreau supports his ideas stated in Civil Disobedience by criticizing the current (current during the time) faults in the United States government.

When America was founded and started to colonize, the people needed to create a government system. They established a government that included many political positions and the three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial. Throughout history, the government has changed and adapted to the political status of the country and the world. In the Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson, he states the purpose of government was: “To secure these rights [to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness] governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” However, Henry David Thoreau does not agree with everything Jefferson states. In Thoreau's essay, On The Duty of Civil Disobedience, he contradicts

Throughout the essay, “Civil Disobedience,” by Henry David Thoreau, there is a major conflict being forced upon the people who are having to pay a poll tax for which Thoreau does not agree with. In correlation to this story, in previous years there have been many taxes forced upon Americans that have caused citizens who want nothing to do with these organizations, mandatory to pay as well. While some tax money based programs are needed and do help out the community, others aren’t which includes the tax dollars we have to pay for other people to get aid, like food stamps. When used in the correct conditions this program can be of great benefit to certain Americans, but in reality what happens is a lack of supervision, causing the misuse of this program. Thoreau backs up his thoughts on taxations by standing up for what he wants, realizing how others see this poll tax, and proving the points of why this tax does not need to be supported just as American citizens do with not wanting to take part in paying for other people food stamps.

The political concepts of justice and how a society should be governed have dominated literature throughout human history. The concept of peacefully resisting laws set by a governing force can be seen as far back as the Ancient Greeks; within the works of Sophocles and Socrates. Since then, this popular idea has developed over the centuries into what is commonly known today as civil disobedience. Due to the works of Henry David Thoreau and Martin Luther King Jr. civil disobedience is a well-known political action in the United States; first in the application against slavery and second in the application against segregation. Thoreau’s essay “Civil Disobedience” and King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” are the leading arguments in defining what it means to protest for a cause. Throughout history there has always been a need for civil disobedience, and it is now more prevalent in our world than ever.

Thoreau made his introduction of “Civil Disobedience” clear in the main purposes for writing the article. He immediately focuses his readers’ attention on the value of one’s government by saying “I heartily accept the motto, —’That government is best which governs least;” and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically.” (Thoreau 1) His essential problem with the government, and the reason he thinks the power of the government should be limited as much as possible, is that if the government can become