What To Slave Is The Fourth Of July Rhetorical Analysis

Frederick Douglass was an African American abolitionist who sought out to put an end to slavery. He wrote a speech called “What, to Slave, is the Fourth of July”. Although Douglass delivered his speech to a mostly sympathetic audience, he was still able to achieve a proper condemnation of America through the strategies of pathos and metaphors.
While reading through Douglass’s speech, he portrays signs of admonition that are very clear. In the third paragraph of Douglass’s speech, he states, “The difficulties to be overcome in getting from the latter to the former, are by no means slight.”. Douglass is letting his audience know that it won’t be easy to make the change they’re all wanting and hoping for. Even though it will be challenging, it’s something Douglass won’t back down from until there is justice among the African Americans. Furthermore, Douglass says in the beginning of the fourth paragraph, “But his heart may well beat lighter at the thought that America is young, and that she

Right away Douglass captures the audience’s attention on how nervous he is: “He who could address this audience without a quailing sensation, has stronger nerves than I have.”. Saying this could make the audience sympathize for Douglass, Also, the audience could gain respect for him standing in front of many people, fighting for what he believes in. Douglass uses a metaphor in the fifth paragraph of his speech, “Great streams are not easily turned from channels worn deep in the course of ages.” Douglass is saying that, the longer this nation uses slavery, the more comfortable it’ll become to them; and the harder it will be to change the nation. Douglass wants his audience to know if they don’t act now, the harder it’ll become to change. While going through his speech, Douglass can only hope that his words will make a difference in the minds of those who are hearing