Rhetorical Analysis - Essay Example

k Douglass” is an essay that is meant to be read after one has had a briefing on the history of African - American slavery in the United States and its subsequent result, which is the Civil War between the North and South for the freedom of the slaves. In his narrative, Mr. Douglass clearly points out the main reasons why there was a need to free the slaves and why the slaves who did not wish to be freed should support the abolishment of slavery just the same. Using all three avenues of rhetoric -- ethos, logos, and pathos throughout his essay gives the reader the sense that although the writer came from a slave background, he was far from being ignorant and uneducated.

Rather, Mr. Douglass acquitted himself quite well as he presented his well thought out case for the demise of slavery and the need to punish those who had done them wrong. The writing of Mr. Douglass was amazing for its time because he had accomplished something that the slave owners said could not be done. He had proven that even slaves, when given a chance to learn and educate themselves, can equal their masters in terms of intelligence and intellectual capacity. This is a belief that is easy to admit to since, as one reads “Life of Frederick Douglass” it shall never cross the mind of the reader that he was reading the work of a man who did not have a formal education and that the person behind the writing, was himself an escaped slave.

Of all of the three rhetorical methods that he used in the narrative, it is my opinion that the most effective method that he used was Pathos. Why is that you might ask? Although I could have chosen to say that he used Ethos to the best of his abilities, since he was after all speaking from the point of view of a former slave, he did not dwell long enough on a point of view in order to drive home his arguments. Instead, he made ample of use his personal stories to connect with the reader. Quotes such as; “Never having enjoyed, to any considerable