Comparing Benjamin Banneker's Letter To Thomas Jefferson

Arshad Chowdhury Hypocrisy can be a funny thing. One never discovers the gravity of it, until far after the fact. One of the keen examples of hypocrisy can be seen through the seventeenth century all the way through the nineteenth century, in American slavery. Today many Americans feel guilty for the hardships the African Americans that were captured and forced to work like dogs for their ancestors. Benjamin Banneker, a distinguished man of many careers, happened to be the son of former slaves.

Benjamin Banneker in the letter, argues against slavery. Banneker uses biblical allusion, and a melancholic tone in order to argue against slavery to Thomas Jefferson in 1791.     Banneker uses biblical allusion in order to demonstrate that all humans should be treated the same, and have equal rights. For example, “you cannot but acknowledge that the present freedom and tranquility which you enjoy you have mercifully received and that it is the pecular blessing of Heaven” (Banneker 1). Banneker presents his argument by stating that Thomas Jefferson has freedom because of heaven, and he should extend the same right to everyone else.

Olaudah Equiano was a slave since he was 13. When he got to the age of 21 his proprietor permitted him to purchase himself off of subjugation, and in this story he is educating us regarding how he felt about being a slave and how it was extremely frightful to be a slave on a boat with being a starved, encompassed by affliction, and abuse. Benjamin Banneker letter to, Thomas Jefferson was considered as challenge writing since he was composing a chronicle to secretary of state Thomas Jefferson in acknowledgment on the most proficient method to abrogating subjugation ought to be. Banneker felt in Jefferson 's life he ought to concur with him that servitude was really merciless and only

You say This, But do That Benjamin Banneker employs techniques of imagery and irony, as well as tools of diction to enhance his idea of slavery needing to be stopped by pointing out Thomas Jefferson’s hypocrisy without attacking. Banneker employs imagery through allusions to help convince to help show how Jefferson is go against his common beliefs to a point. Banneker alludes religion by talking about “the pecular blessings” given “by their creator” (Banneker). Banneker points out how not being enslaved whether it be not being under British rule, or being an actual slave forced to work without anything in return is a gift from God. Due to Christianity being the main religion then Banneker uses to point out how Jefferson is not giving all

Benjamin Banneker was born November 9, 1731 in Ellicott's Mills Maryland. He grew up on a cotton plantation he was the son of a former slave by the name of Robert and his mother Mary both of his parents where ex-slaves giving Banneker freedom from birth. At a young age he was taught to read by his grandmother at the same time he attended a quacker school. He was self-taught for the most part teaching himself literature, history, and mathematics. With such great intelligence he had multiple accomplishments in the near future.

Imagine you live in a world where you are punished for being ever so slightly better than average, and anyone who wants to compete with their fellow citizens are handicapped in some way so that no one is superior. What would you do? Would you follow along like a helpless sheep, unable to speak your opinion? Would happiness and joy fill your mind because you’re afraid that everyone would shun you due to your incompetence, or would you fight for your right to be a unique individual who has their own strengths and weaknesses. In the story, “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut, jr., the main character, Harrison, did just that, he fought a corrupt government and tried to release the people from their torturous bonds.

Government Control Everyone has felt smarter or maybe not so smart, due to others intelligence once in their lifetime. In a world full of different people this can happen often. However, what if there were a world where everyone was equal? No person was smarter than the other, and everyone had the same level of intelligence. In the movie, Harrison Bergeron, he is a very gifted boy who is against a “government” that makes the entire society equal by handicapping the more gifted, down to the level of the less fortunate or incapable.(Bruce “Harrison”)

In Herman Melville’s Bartleby And Benito Cereno, the San Dominick is now under the rule of Babo, a slave mastermind. Babo guides the other slaves to revolt against the slave master Armanda and the spaniards. Negro Babo cautioned Don Benito Cereno ‘he and his companions could not otherwise be sure of their liberty’ (Melville, 1855, p.65). The negro’s only purpose for being defiant was to regain freedom. Thom Brooks declared that ‘punishment is only justified when it is deserved, not when it satisfies private anger or bloodlust’ (2012, p.16).

No matter who a person is or what others think of him or her, that person will always have the opportunity to change for the better; Nobody has the power to tell a person what he or she can or cannot do. In the novel, A Lesson Before Dying, by Ernest J. Gaines, the protagonist, Jefferson discovers that he could change as a whole person and finally become a man, even under difficult circumstances. He is constantly discriminated and does not feel welcomed to the society. Throughout the majority of the novel, Jefferson believes he is his own stereotype and takes it to heart when he is being called a hog. Although he knows he will be exiled, Jefferson and his family hopes for a change in his heart.

I had seen and heard the protests of my fellow colonists on my way home from gathering the chicken eggs for breakfast. It was 4:30 in the morning, but the streets lacked the familiar silence that I so enjoyed. Instead of the echo of beautiful songs chirped by the early morning birds, the air was filled with the sounds of screaming, shouting, and loud chants of protest. Protesting what, I 'm not sure. I paused to listen in, leaning towards the source of the noise.