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Rhetorical analysis of douglass speech
Themes in the narrative of frederick douglass
Critiques of frederick douglass
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I believe Fredrick Douglass’s speech was as captivating and popular as it was because he was actually worthy, strong, and intellectually outspoken enough to mention the real issues at hand. Also, he spoke from a “Negro” point of view which was to not applaud but say how dare you. Douglass calls out the absurdity of the fourth of July by speaking to the audience and anti-slavery society. Douglass exclaims, “This Fourth of July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn. To drag a man in fetters into a grand illuminated temple of liberty, and call upon him to join you in joyous anthems, were inhuman mockery and sacrilegious irony.” (Page 2151). Douglass asserts that this day means nothing to him but injustice and cruelty which he constantly falls victim to. He also goes onto to say that this day is nothing but deception, fraud, and hypocrisy. Douglass gives great claims of how slanderous they have treated us through speaking of American slavery and also, how they mock God singing hymns but still just destructive. Overall, Douglass doesn’t applaud this day instead he just brings greater awareness of the causes that have taken place. He does acknowledge that yes, people will celebrate this day but understand what it means to what was covered up on this day such as the disgraceful crimes committed. This was labeled the best American speech of all time because Douglass because he says slavery will be hidden to the world and because no one has ever intellectually spoken truth to our liberty, freedom, and pursuit of happiness.
Douglass as both the author and narrator in his novel took readers through his escape from slavery. Specifically mentioned in chapter seven of the book, the author expressed his new skill of reading and how that inspired his freedom. Douglass utilized rhetorical devices in chapter seven, such as pathos and personification to illustrate to his audience how his education motivated him to achieve liberation. Douglass’ effective use of emotion throughout the chapter made his experiences appeal to readers. Also, the first and last sentences of chapter seven served as bookends to show how education influenced Douglass’ freedom because within those two phrases there was a portion of Douglass’ journey told on how he escaped salvation. Lastly, Douglass’
Frederick Douglass wrote in his 1845 autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, about the devastation associated with slavery and the destruction from which comes desperation. Douglass intends to summon upon the guilt and empathy of his white audience by giving an account from which the reader is able to coax up a new perspective on the dreadful oppression. Seen especially in the third paragraph where Douglass provides a series of rhetorical devices including: apostrophe, anaphora, personification, exemplum, and epithet in his sorrowful bellowing to passing ships.
In that very speech, Douglass made it clear that, like countless African Americans during this time period, he did not feel like he could join White Americans in the celebration of the 4th of July. Douglass had a primary objective of calling to question the validity of celebrating the 4th of July while there were many injustices still in practice. He aimed to make it clear to the audience that, it was a mockery to expect or even invite African Americans to partake in the celebration of the 4th of July because it was not theirs to celebrate. His objective shaped his speech dramatically. It allowed him to bring up the history behind the 4th of July and call to question why the ideologies that brought out the Nation’s liberation were not being used to liberate the slaves.
...ederick Douglass once said, “From the time that I can remember having any thoughts about anything, I recall that I had an intense longing to learn to read” (Douglass, 13). He always was determined and came a long way. He took his opportunity to give a speech during the celebration of the Fourth of July. Though to Douglass “Celebrations are a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages”. (Foner, 481). He made it clear of these crimes to those who wanted a speech to be given. He ends his amazing speech with a statement he has been working to prove all along… The Fourth of July is a dissatisfying reminder to him and his people of the cruelty and pain he has been through and what is going on. Frederick Douglass knows the past cannot be undone, but he will not celebrate, he will mourn for those who have been forced to sacrifice their freedom.
In the following excerpt from the autobiography Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, the third paragraph is distinguished from the rest of the passage due to the immediate shift of attitude, and exhibiting a somewhat of an ebullience through this hopeful vision of becoming forever free, which is effectively displayed by his use of figurative language and short and concise like syntax.
The “Fourth of July Oration” and the gathering that Douglass was attending was constructed to serve an early ceremony for Independence Day. He begins his speech with the subject of America’s independence. Specifics of the nation such as the memories of the Revolution, the model of freedom for all individuals, and religious support were spoken about. Frederick shares his experiences as a child. He believed that the American slave-trade was a horrific event that became real for a majority of individuals. When young, Douglass witnessed the disgust that all slaves had to experience, “my soul was often pierced…” (p. 267) He would watch the slave ships being anchored, ones that held innocent individuals. It was difficult and absolutely absurd for anybody to watch such torture take place and not be able to do a single thing ...
Frederick Douglass was a magnificent and clever learner. Learning is as much a skill as the things it is used to acquire, and Douglass was very skillful. As a boy Douglass was abused and punished for his scholarly interests, but he never lost his passion and drive to gain more knowledge. He engaged in clever tricks, games, and habits to increase his literacy. Douglass says at the beginning of his life his knowledge was a curse, and it seemed so, but I think that into his teens he realized what a powerful ally it could be. Then in his later life it became his strongest ally. Douglass’s opinion of knowledge changed from negative to positive due to his change in position.
The first example of detail is, “The point from which I am compelled to view them is not, certainly, the most favorable; and yet I cannot contemplate their great deeds with less than admiration” (Douglass, Para. #1). The above quote explains his view point to citizens that he respects what they have to say but he doesn’t agree with their beliefs. The second example is when he showed his imagery, “Then would my task be light, and my burden easy and delightful” (Douglass, Para. #3). This demonstrates the comparison of how he compared the slaves and the white and how they were treated very differently from each other. He used diction such as, “The rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity and independence, bequeathed by your fathers, is shared by you, not by me” (Douglass, Para #4). In this quote he describes the beliefs that's passed on to people and everyone believed the same things but he will not share the same opinion according to the celebration of July Fourth. Therefore, the idea to break down to his audience that are anti-slavery the way he feels July Fourth should be celebrated to
A human being is a complicated entity of a contradictory nature where creative and destructive, virtuous and vicious are interwoven. Each of us has gone through various kinds of struggle at least once in a lifetime ranging from everyday discrepancies to worldwide catastrophes. There are always different causes and reasons that trigger these struggles, however, there is common ground for them as well: people are different, even though it is a truism no one seems to able to realize this statement from beyond the bounds of one’s self and reach out to approach the Other.
During Douglass lifetime one of his most important significances is about the 13th amendment, which still is very relevant in today’s society. The 13th amendment made it illegal to own slaves, and it was taken in to effect in 1865. (Fletcher, George P. pg. 52) The 13th amendment wasn’t an easy amendment to get through since slavery was such a big part of the society, especially in the south where many people owned multiple slaves. However, due to the fact that Douglass was a high ranked politician, and had great oral skills he was able to influence both the people in the society, congress, and House of Representatives. Though, it wasn’t only because he was a high ranked politician he was able to influence people and make them understand how horrific the slavery actually was. Twenty years before the 13th amendment was passed in congress, Douglass released an autobiography book “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave.” In his autobiography book he explained about how it was to be a slave, what he had to do and how terrible it was. Additionally, he also explained about his escape from slavery and how he got in to politics, and different Anti-Slavery organizations. It’s very important to have Frederick Douglass in mind when talking about the 13th amendment because without him the 13th amendment most likely wouldn’t have passed
His main argument in the speech is that it 's unjust and hypocritical for a country to celebrate its freedom while it still has slaves. Now that in itself is a morally viable argument, and it has never been more relevant than today in our racially hate fueled world where every situation is turned into a hate crime. However, back in those days majority of slaves were sold into slavery by their own people. Most slaves were sold by rival tribes as prisoners of war, or trouble makers of the tribe, thus giving us the “bottom of the barrel” of the groups. Another counter to Douglass was that even though slaves were people, they were still considered property. A hard working farmer could have used his last penny in order to purchase that slave because he was unable to tend his farm and provide for his family. One common misconception was that all slaves were beaten and treated lower than swine, while to the contrary some were treated well being given a bed and meals every day in exchange for their hard work. While Douglass may have had a bad time under the ownership of Auld, most northern states did not treat their slaves in this manner. This is one of the main reasons Douglass learned how to read, yet no credit is given to his former owner. Most slaves developed a relationship with their owners, in which their owners taught them useful skills such as reading, writing, simple math and farming skills. Another argument brought into Douglass’ speech was that most churches were segregated, and in turn perpetuated the racism that helped keep slavery alive in well. He proposed that a God that wouldn’t allow such evil and disservice in this world would contradict everything the bible proposes and teaches. He praises the writers of the constitution, considering them his equal and thanking the signers of the Declaration of Independence, calling
Frederick Douglass's "Fourth of July" Speech is the most famous speech delivered by the abolitionist and civil rights advocate Frederick Douglass. It attracted a crowd of between five hundred and six hundred. Douglass’s speech to the slaves on the Fourth of July served to show the slaves that there is nothing for them to celebrate. They were not free and the independence that the rest of the country celebrated did not apply to them.
The effectiveness and excellent structure of Frederick Douglass’ Fourth of July speech is apparent. His rhetorical arguments served as powerful rebuts to opposing contentions and forced his audience to consider the undeniable error in their nation’s policy and approach regarding slavery. Douglass also compelled his audience to take his words seriously by establishing his credibility, recognizing his audience, and skillfully constructing and executing his speech. The end product of his efforts became a provocative speech at the time and a historical delivery in the future. Douglass succeeded in giving a speech that clearly and effectively argued the absurdity of the institution of slavery in America, leaving it up to his audience to consider his position and decide for themselves how to act in the future.
he fact that his work was compelling, powerful and had a purpose. Take for example his speech titled, “The Need for Continuing Anti-Slavery Work”. It was written in May of 1865 at the thirty-second annual Meeting of the American Anti-Slavery Society. During his speech he stresses the importance that the Abolition community must continue their work for the rights of African Americans and the once again advocates for black enfranchisement. When supporting his stance on the continued work of the American Anti-Slavery Society Douglass wrote, “I take this ground; whether this Constitutional Amendment is law or not, whether it has been ratified by a sufficient number of States to make it law or not, I hold that the work of Abolitionists is not done...while the black man is confronted in this legislation of the South by the word “white”, our work as Abolitionist, as I conceive it, is not done”. This speech reveals that during the period that Douglass and Oakes claim that Douglass was lost, he was still an enthusiastic advocate for African Americans. At the same time, these few lines from the speech contradict what Douglass says in The Life and Times of Frederick Douglass. It can be easily seen that he clearly did not believe that the
His speech was in Rochester, New York, where many people may not know about the injustice slaves experience. He uses examples that show some may not understand what blacks endure and what their “freedoms” really are. Douglass says “July is yours, not mine”. Phrases such as “Am I wrong to argue that it is wrong to make men brutes, to rob them of their liberty, End without wages, to keep him ignorant of their relations to their fellow-men, to beat them with sticks, to Flay the flesh with the last, to load their lives with irons, to hunt them with dogs, to sell them at auction, to send you their families, to knock out their teeth, to bring their flesh, to starve them into obedience and submission to their masters?” Here Douglass used repetition of gruesome and powerful actions taken.