The Sophists and MLK Jr.

In "Toward a Sophistic Definition of rhetoric," Poulakos focuses on the Sophists idea of " rhetoric as art, or style as personal expression" (26). More specifically, the style consisted of kairos, to prepon, and to dynaton. Kairos reflects the aspect of time. Poulakos tells us that the appropraite time for a rhetor to speak is when he is compelled to do so by his situation. A man is less compelled to speak when he is comfortable or feels no sense of urgency. Martin Luther King, Jr. in his letter from the Birmingham jail exemplifies his nessecity to write. He was compelled not only by the situation of segregation and the maltreatment of black people, but also by his current status of being in jail. To prepon Is another aspect of the Sophist's style and it represents the content of what is being said by the rhetor. The content must be appropraite in text and style to the situation at hand, and must further agree with the audience. Martin Luther King, Jr. had more than one audience for his letter. Although he addresses the clergymen, the letter is also for his followers to revive their hope and stregnth for the cause. His letter was appropriate in content for the situation occuring in the south and it was also pleasing to his followers awaiting his release from prision. Lastly, Poulakos describes to dynaton which is a rhetors ability to see the possible. He describes the difference between an ordinary man and a rhetor by explaining the a rhetor lives in two worlds at once. One world is his actual and the other is the world he sees as possible. Martin Luther King, Jr. also addresses to dynaton in his letter from the jail. Although there are many people that attempt to discourage him from pursuing segregation and equality for black people, he continues to pursue what he sees as a possible reality for himself and the rest of America.