Banneker Rhetorical Analysis

The negative diction and details clearly display that Banneker is livid concerning the issue of slavery, while the positive diction and details reveal that Banneker is undeterred concerning the need to end slavery. Banneker employs notable numbers of negatively charged words in order to convey his great impatience and anger regarding this issue. In the beginning of Banneker’s letter, the author both uses words that dance around the issue of slavery, as well as explicitly naming the subject of his letter. By associating the already negative words of slavery and servitude with words such as abhorrence, horrors, and injustice, Banneker elevates the connotation of these words from merely negative to utterly abysmal. In the second paragraph, Banneker
Additionally, the author includes Biblical allusion in a positive way in order to evoke an aura and tone of godliness and morality. Banneker alludes to the Bible throughout the letter through emotionally charged words such as providential, blessings, and mercifully, in addition to referencing the Biblical character Job. These emotionally charged words are effective because they appeal to the reader’s value of their religion and their duty as a Christian to try to exemplify honorable characteristics. Through this letter, Banneker is showing his audience that were they to personify Christian values, slavery would not be an issue, as it would have been abolished already. Banneker uses reference to Job to once again show that no amount of suffering will sway him from the cause of abolition. Banneker connects the plight of the slaves with that of Job, a righteous man who was forced to endure hardship, showing that both must endure tribulations, though neither are deserving of such. As his audience is the President of the United States, Banneker’s tone remains respectful and positive throughout the duration of the