Rhetorical Analysis Of Benjamin Banneker

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Benjamin Banneker, the son of former slaves and an author of this letter that he wrote to Thomas Jefferson, brought to the attention of inequality and unfairness of slavery. Banneker’s purpose is to have Thomas Jefferson to reflect n the words written in the Declaration of Independence and to voice out his opposing viewpoint on slavery in order to make change to the equality spoken in the Declaration of Independence. Banneker adopts a serious and critical tone with Tomas Jefferson to show him that slaves did not experience what they should’ve experienced, which where the rights entitled by nature. Banneker begins his letter by utilizing the word “sir,” which was repeated multiple times throughout the letter. He would start his entire paragraph with this word. By utilizing this repetition in his letter made sure that Jefferson is alerted and come to the realization of Banneker’s opposing viewpoint on slavery. Furthermore, Banneker included dictions such as “suffer,” “injustice”, “serious,” and “groaning.” This effectively enhances the issue of the horrible condition and treatment the slave received during late 1700s. In addition, these dictions helps conveys “how pitiable” that Jefferson didn’t entitles the rights given by nature to everyone when he is “fully convinced” by this belief. The …show more content…

Banneker argued that Thomas Jefferson “have mercifully received” the present “freedom and tranquility” given from heaven. On the other hand, Jefferson “ saw the injustice of a state of slavery and which you had just apprehension the horrors of its condition.” This demonstrate the unfair and actions that Jefferson did not take to solve the conditions and experiences slavery went though even though he clearly saw the misery. By utilizing compare and contrast, Banneker also appealed to a sense of guilt in Thomas Jefferson for not helping out the

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