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The Tower Of July Fourth For The Negro Rhetorical Devices

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Frederic Douglass delivered “The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro” on July 5, 1852, in the city of Rochester, New York. In the speech, the orator expressed thoughts and feelings of people who were held in bondage, whereas the country exulted at the celebration of independence. Being a black slave in the past, Frederic Douglass contended for an abolition of slavery; therefore, the oration for Independence Day represented a voice of hope for his people in front of a mainly white audience that shared anti-slavery ideas. Clearly, the speaker was familiar with the listeners and equated to them expressing respect, fearlessness, and harshness, thereby establishing credibility. Furthermore, he referenced to the Declaration of Independence and Founding …show more content…

Thus, he used several allusions, which imply direct or indirect references to the religious manuscripts, mythical stories, historical events or literary pieces, and promote conveying important messages in an embellish manner, involving audience to detect what is alluded. Addressing devout citizens, the speaker referred to the story of the Tower of Babel, which according to the Bible (Genesis 11:4) was built by a monolingual nation that wanted to reach the heaven and become equal to God. The Creator punished the arrogant folks, endowing them with different languages and triggering misunderstanding among the builders, subsequently, leading to the end of the civilization and scattering the people to different corners of the globe. This allusion was utilized to remind Americans how important to obey God’s will and follow the laws of humanity as well as warn them of a feasible end of the American nation, which was blinded by the pride and taken the wrong direction unperceiving the pain and sorrow of …show more content…

In this respect, the orator compared slavery to “horrible reptile”, “venomous creature” and “hideous monster” that settled on the American expanses and defamed the idea of independence. The speaker prevised the fatal future of America that can be resembled the Aesop’s peasant who warmed a snake that bit its savior to death. Furthermore, he invoked Americans to act and cease injustice and oppression of enslaved people, evoking the sense of fear along with inspiring

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