Frederick Douglass Rhetoric Analysis

Whenever mischief exists in nightspot, it stimulates the responsibility of others to step onwards in defence force of the oppressed. If this action does not occur, accordingly the injustice will rest and innocent good deal will suffer. In order to preserve equality, sometimes tidy sum must take a try in order to reveal the trueness and uphold justice. Individuals throughout history, such as the founding fathers, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King, Jr. , get d give face this peril in the pursuit of freedom.In 1845, Frederick Douglass produce Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, in order to do just that- to take a leak the truth behind break mavins backry and sanction for freedom. In his narrative, Douglass purposes diction, social structure, imagery, and other rhetorical elements to take people of the loathsomenesss that thralldom inflicts on some(prenominal)(prenominal) sides of society. In order to reveal the truth behind thralldom, Douglass demonstrates his doom through his use of diction and structure. by his diction, Douglass uses words to expand the barbarity and in va permitity of slaveholding.For instance, Douglass describes slave dealers as human flesh-mongers and their actions as fiendish barbarity (Douglass, 21, 27). By using words such as these, Douglass shows his contempt for those responsible and informs the lector of the scratchiness of thraldom. He compares the slaveholders to barbarians, revealing them as the round top of cruelty and wickedness. In addition, after honoring the white men heartlessly flagrant slaves with swine and thoughtlessly divide families, he see much clearly than ever the savageizing do of thraldom upon both the slave and the slaveholder (Douglass, 58).Douglass uses the word brutalizing to show how the power of owning other person turned the white brutal and inhuman. That they could commit these malicious acts on sonny human beings becomes incomprehensible, and he success to the full communicates the pixilated effects of slavery. In addition to his diction, Douglass uses structure to show how the barbarity of enslavement graduation exercise turned him into a slave, and how that same atrocity set him free. After about cabaret chapters detailing his slave life, he says, You let seen how a man was made a slave you shall see how a slave was made a man. (Douglass, 75) He then goes on to describe the turning point for him that sparked his quest for freedom. By structuring his narrative this way, he reveals both sides- how slavery broke him in body, soul, and spirit (Douglass, 73) and how it purgetually rekindled the few expiring embers of freedom within him (Douglass, 80). In doing so, he gives the reader an insight into how he became himself, and reinforces the evils of slavery in the way it shapes a mans life. Douglass use of diction and structure in effect persuades the reader of the barbarity and inhumanity that comes as a result of slavery.To continue his persuasion, Douglass uses survival of the fittest of detail and different short letters to patch up his watch out known. When describing some aspects of slavery, Douglass use of detail opens societys eyes to injustice. In adept case, when describing the whipping of his Aunt Hester, he includes expound that encompass sight- the warm, red blood came descend to the floor, sound- amid heart-rending shrieks, and emotion- I was so horror-stricken I hid myself in a closet (Douglass, 24).By including facts screen more senses, he provides the reader a chance to piece together the scene, tolerant them perspective. If society has all the details, it becomes easier for them to pass an dead-on(prenominal) judgment of slavery. His detail, or lack thereof, likewise contributes to his use of tone- in particular, one of savour and detachment. When describing incidents involving himself, he seems as if relating the story of another(prenominal)- uncommon a week passed without his whipping me. I was seldom free from a unutterable back (Douglass, 70).While he neither all over or under exaggerates the situation, he seldom tells of his own emotions and disgust regarding his punishments, and he shows his contempt without appearing exceedingly emotional. By property a cooler tone, Douglass avoids writing warming with emotion and reestablishes his credibility. Douglass also uses a tone of despair to persuade of injustice. In one passage, he pours out his heart, O God, extradite me God deliver me Why am I a slave? (Douglass, 74). Through his touching supplication the reader weaken understands him.His despairing tone displays how slavery truly broke him down and pushed him into misery. Douglass use of detail and tone sincerely convinces one of slaverys evils. In addition to stylistic elements used thus far, Douglass also uses both imagery and syntax to portray the horrors of slavery. To develop with, he uses imagery by personifying slave ry there stood slavery, a stern reality, stare frightfully upon us, -its robes already crimsoned with the blood of millions, and even now feasting itself greedily upon our own flesh. (Douglass, 90) By depicting slavery this way, he gives it power and emphasis, causing slaves to appear nerveless beneath slaverys influence. The intellectual representation he renders reveals once more the involuntary, villainous enslavement and that the effects of slavery are evil and need to cease. along with personification, Douglass uses a metaphor to illustrate the terrible effects of slavery on his mistress- thrall proved as injurious to her as it did to meUnder its influence, the tender heart became stone, and the lamblike disposition gave way to one of tiger-like furiousness (Douglass, 51).While her heart did not truly become stone, this illustration helps to reveal how the responsibility of owning another human being corrupted her. By using a metaphor, the comparison among her temperament before and after owning a slave becomes a harsher, more dim reality of slaverys evil influence. Along with imagery, Douglass use of syntax provides comment and effectively helps to portray slaverys harms.After escaping to the north, Douglass describes the thoughts running through his mind let him place himself in my situation- without home or friends- without money or credit- wanting shelter, and no one to give it- wanting bread, and no money to buy it, perfectly mazed both as to the means of defense and means of escape, I say, let him be placed in this most laborious situation, the situation in which I was placed,- then, and not till then, will he fully appreciate the hardships of, and know how to sympathize with, the toil-worn and whip-scarred flitting slave (Douglass, 110).The choppy flow of this sentence, alter with breaks in thought, makes him seem breathless and reflects his terror as a runaway slave. This shows that slavery, which has instilled thickheaded fear i nto the hearts of slaves, makes adjustment in a free world thorny for fugitives. To convince society of the harm that slavery wreaks on both the slave and slaveholder, Frederick Douglass uses many literary elements in his narrative to get down his message.Overcoming many difficulties and prejudice against him, Douglass published his narrative, despite numerous risks, to persuade society of slaverys evils. Engaged in plead the importance of freedom, his narrative, read across the world, stands as a witness to the struggles required to conform to freedom. All through history, courageous individuals have stood up in the face of misfortune to protect the rights of others. Today, where freedoms are threatened across the world, people can still make a difference, like Douglass narrative, and unify people in a worthy causa to defend liberty.