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Rhetorical Analysis Of Wendell Phillips Speech

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Wendell Phillips, a prominent white American abolitionist, gave an empowering and reverent speech regarding his admiration for former slave and Haitian general, Toussaint-Louverture. Phillips uses the power of figurative language and rhetorical devices to reveal an unmistakable abolitionist passion for African American rights, and attempts to ignite this enthusiasm into the hearts and minds of the audience through his zealous attitude. Phillips employs hyperbole, understatement, and metaphor to persuade the audience that the support of African American soldiers will be an influencing aspect in an impending American victory. The speech is rife with parallel structure and reference to historical allusions. This technique allows him to praise Toussaint-Louverture while also influencing and inspiring onlookers. …show more content…

He first juxtaposes his preface of Louverture with a contribution about the prodigious American President and military leader, George Washington. This petitions nationalist emotions in the audience as a Haitian Negro is preceded by a prominent American leader. By inserting the two names alongside each other, Phillips accentuates an intended comparison between the two in terms of renown. Phillips demonstrates the triumph of Washington, whom Americans respect as “no marble white enough on which to carve the name of the Father of his Country.” Through the use of hyperbole, Phillips expresses to the audience the haughty attitude each country holds in recognizing national heroes. He makes a second comparison when Oliver Cromwell, an influential English political leader known for his military skill, is acknowledged as parallel to Toussaint. Comparable to the juxtaposition to Washington, Phillips appears to dismiss the meager dissimilarities between Cromwell and Toussaint and depict them as

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