Justice in A Letter From Birmingham Jail

            The intent of this paper is to expand on the themes of justice that resonate throughout the entirety of King's A Letter From Birmingham Jail. According to Swiss psychoanalyst C.G. Jung, an archetype is a conscious and/or subconscious component of the human psyche. It is the unconscious portion that contains energies that are known as archetypes. In order to be classified as an archetype, the unconscious energies must be common to mankind, timeless and numinous. King's A Letter From Birmingham Jail has become a classic and for good reason. King highly valued the fact that all mankind should be deemed the same rights, was deeply influence by his spirituality and his timeless viewpoints were much like those of wise individuals throughout history. King captured the power of an archetype described by Jung, because his vision of justice for all was capable of "transmut[ing] his personal destiny into the destiny of mankind" (Jung 82). Dr. King's writings, decisions and actions came from within his soul and were greatly influenced by the laws of a higher being rather than the laws of the land which were written but, often, not properly enforced. His innate morality gauge is one that is universal and timeless in nature.
             King's priceless attributes are still admired today, illustrating that his thoughts were revolutionary at the time, but in effect, timeless. His vision was deemed revolutionary at the time, since he was in jail for breaking man's law. On the other hand, his vision today is considered timeless since his actions were in accord with universal and divine law and justice. King was a well versed man in past readings such as the Bible or other spiritual readings, the works of philosophers such as Buber and Socrates and was current on the politics as well as very well versed in legal documents such as the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was dated on December 10, 1928.