Victor Hugo Persuasive Essay

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Writers often use their writing to manipulate their audience through certain language techniques that make the intended reader more open. French writer, Victor Hugo is best known as the author The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Les Miserables. However, in the mid-1800s, Emperor Napoleon III banished Hugo for his works that express criticism of the Emperor and his control. Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s canny and urging letter to the Emperor Napoleon III uses juxtaposition, flattery, and pathos to convince the Emperor to pardon Victor Hugo. To begin with, the use of juxtaposition, appeals to Napoleon’s beliefs by displaying Browning’s perspective in a light that Napoleon can agree with. Additionally, juxtaposition makes Browning seem submissive …show more content…

Because the audience is specific to the Emperor, Browning carefully tailors her argument to Napoleon's beliefs and morals. She brings up God in another attempt to compare Napoleon to the religious deity, “Make an exception of him as God made an exception of him when He gave him genius...” (Browning 56-57). This comparison of God makes Napoleon seem like an idol to Browning, encouraging Napoleon to continue actions that mirrors God. Continuing the comparison of Napoleon to God, Browning instills in the emperor the idea of “turning the other cheek” by forgiving him and “disproving him with your [his] generosity”.While religion was the target of this emotional response, Browning also connects her argument to the son of Napoleon, that his son would think him “great” to forgive Hugo with “magnanimity” (44-45). Because the emperor is a parent, Browning then connects this to the parenthood of Victory Hugo, requesting that Napoleon allows Hugo to return to his “daughter's grave” (59). Appealing to the Emperor's religion and love for his children, Browning thoroughly makes her case, urging Napoleon to allow Hugo home. By using Napoleon's son to elicit emotion, Browning makes the case that the Emperor would be a better father if he pardoned Victor

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