Rhetorical Analysis Of What To The Slave Is The Fourth Of July

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Rhetorical Analysis

Frederick Douglass, an abolitionist author of “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?,” 1852, portrays the slave’s perspective on this particular holiday. Douglass begins to talk about how nervous he is and how much he’s prepared for this day, then discusses how he agrees on how America was right during the revolution. He then reveals what he has actually been preparing for in his speech. The author wants to talk about slavery in order to show the audience what the Fourth of July means to the enslaved. Douglass appeals to an audience that is oblivious to what this celebration truly means.
Douglass attempts to make himself seem humble by emphasizing that this is a huge honor for him and that he is extremely nervous. “He who could address this audience without a quailing sensation has stronger nerves than I have.” This statement makes him seem really nervous and that he understands how privileged he is to be there that day. Douglass says this in order to seem respectful. “The task before is one which requires much previous thought and study for its proper performance.” He says this in order that the audience might believe that he has worked very hard and has used the best of his skills to make …show more content…
“To say now that America was right, and England wrong, is exceedingly easy.” He points this out to show that he agrees with the people of the audience, or also to maybe gain their respect. “They may also rise in wrath and fury, and bear away, on their angry waves, the accumulated wealth of years of toil and hardship.” Douglass particularly expresses this in order that the audience understands that the revolutionaries fought bravely and that they should be proud of them and their country. This makes Douglass seem logical and has reason. He also says it’s rightfully their holiday and it was a smart move for America to leave
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