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Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass Rhetorical Analysis Essay

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In (1) Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass addressed to (2) white Americans unaware of the consequences of slavery, (3) Douglass (4) appeals to empathy by presenting his story in order to (5) promote the abolitionist movement and to (7) illustrate (8) the harsh realities of enslavement. Douglass strengthens the abolitionist movement by presenting the irony in the lifestyle and values of Christian slaveholders. When clarifying his point of view towards Christianity, Douglas claims, “so wide, that to receive the one as good, pure and holy is of necessity to reject the other as bad, corrupt and wicked.” pg.119. The author uses diction to exploit slaveholders religion and how it was used negatively and contrary to what Douglas believes …show more content…

In addition, the author uses irony to illuminate the values slaveholders believed in, and the values they acted upon. With this Douglass implies slaveholders created a whole new sense of Christianity; leading a life where they believed in something but acted completely against it. By exposing this, Douglas illustrates the reality of slaveholders’ life and morals which he uses to promote the abolitionist movement. When explaining how religion affected slaves lives Douglas declares, “I therefore hate the corrupt, slaveholding, women-whipping, cradle-plundering, partial and hypocritical Christianity of this land.” pg.119. Through the use of diction and by appealing to pathos, Douglass explains how he lived in a society where religion was used as a harmful weapon by slaveholders. He justifies this by expressing how slaveholders used religion as a mask to hide their true identity, and to be able to live a peaceful and tranquil life relying on God. By connecting slaveholders actions to their religion, Douglas is questioning people’s logic on what is the true purpose of religion, and how religion can be accessed in different ways by everyone. Finally, Douglas challenges slaveholders Christianity and way of living by expressing; “What I have said respecting and against religion, I mean

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