Although “From Letters from an American Farmer” and “An Indian’s Looking-Glass
for the White Man” are essays about the American racism, in “An Indian’s Looking-Glass for
the White Man,” William Apess directs his essays towards mostly whites, who are dominant
society at the time, and points his finger to the white society’s face. He writes about religion,
racism and its injustice, whereas, J. Hector St. John De Crevecoueur, who graphically shows
the atrocity of the slave’s punishment, analyzes the elements of coming face to face with the
terrors of slavery in “From Letters from an American Farmer.” In order to bring persuasive
effects to their essays, Apess uses more rhetorical questions and anaphora, while Crevecoeur
concentrates more on pathos for emotions of the audience.
the white man not only to experience themselves, but even too brutal for the white race to
look at. He does not display his opinion but evidences, in order to call for people’s empathy,
compassion and affliction, whereas Apess’s anaphora is tough and aggressive, that establish a
strong argumentative speech. Crevecoeur graphically shows the extremely wicked act of the
slave’s punishment. He says, for example, “I shudder when I recollect that the birds had
already picked out his eyes, his cheek bones were bare; his arms had been attacked in several
places, and his body seemed covered with a multitude of wounds” (Crevecoeur 22). The
slave begs for something to drink and explains that he wants to die “The living spectre
though deprived of his eyes, could still distinctly hear, and in his uncouth dialect begged me
to give him some water to allay his thirst” (Crevecoeur 23). At this point of life, Crevecoueur
uses pathos to show t...
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...emotions; on
the other hand, “An Indian’s looking-glass for the white man” is rougher, it makes audience
stressful because of the sharp accusation. In my opinion, protest essays supposed to have
effective argument and strong words, in order to make readers/ audiences conscious about
the current situation. Because if everyone consciousness goes on the right way, the slaves
in general and Indians in particular will not be tortured and treated unfairly. Protest essays,
which play the important role to call for people’ alertness, should have sharp and acute
persuasions. For that reason, using only pathos for emotions of the audiences is not enough
for a protest essay.
Works Cited
Trodd, Zoe, John Stauffer, and Howard Zinn. American Protest Literature. Cambridge,
Massachusetts, and London, England: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press,
2006.
no voice of his own, but all accounts affirm to the reader that he is
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