In this critical section of the speech, Douglass explores the tension at the heart of the occasion and answers the question, “What, to the American slave, is the 4th of July?” His reply arrives in a stormy list of descriptors: a “sham,” a “vanity,” a “hollow mockery,” and “mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy.” It was evident that Frederick Douglass, in his speech “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July," did not share the same joyous feelings as his nation did on that celebrated day in the 1800s due to his firm beliefs that America is filled with hypocritical leaders and citizens and thus deserves no adoration from him, a black man who escaped slavery, or from the people who share his ethnicity Combined with Douglass’s earlier references to the values of the forefathers and their hypocrisy, this passage clarifies Douglass’s overarching point that American values, which claim “liberty” at their heart, are essentially a front for a system that oppresses and enslaves millions of people. On Monday, July 5, 1852, Frederick Douglass gave a speech to the “ Ladies of the Rochester Anti-Slavery Sewing Society, ” which arguably became his most famous public oration. Rather than a celebration of the Independence Day holiday, Douglass asked an obvious, simple and damning question: What, to the slave, is the Fourth of July? In Frederick Douglass’s The Meaning of Fourth of July for the Negro, he exposes the hypocrisy and iniquity that is infused into considerably one of the most prolific American moments in history known as The Fourth of July. “This Fourth of July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn.” On July 5, 1852, more than 170 years ago, a man who had once been enslaved stood before a hall full of white abolitionists in Rochester, New York. His name was Frederick Douglass, and he had been invited to speak at an Independence Day event. It became one of Douglass’s most famous speeches—criticizing the chasm between America’s Founding principles and the institution of slavery. In the speech, Douglass lamented that Independence Day wasn’t a day of celebration for enslaved people. Douglass assures his audience that he will not open his speech with a “high sounding” prelude. To the contrary, Douglass’s initial rhetorical tactic is one of humility; in an appeal to ethos , he describes his own nervousness, ill-preparedness, and lack of skill in order to appear more human and thus win the favor of his audience. Frederick Douglass gave a famous speech on July 5th, 1852 called "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July" to the Rochester Ladies Antislavery Society. In the speech, Douglass analyzes the meaning of Independence Day from the perspective of slaves still in bondage. He uses rhetorical devices like loaded language, metaphors, antithesis, and appeals to both logos and pathos to persuade his In “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?”, Douglass uses the metaphor of a ship’s journey to explore America’s history. He first uses the metaphor when recounting the Founding Fathers’ struggle against the read analysis of Ships Metaphor in What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July? Metaphors of Nature and Industry: Douglass’s foremost source for metaphors is the natural world. Because the subject matter of the speech is grim and the political climate dire, Douglass reaches for turbulent metaphors. In July of 1852, Frederick Douglass prepares a speech known as The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro. Douglass was a former slave of the 19th century and soon became a leader during the Abolitionist Movement. In his speech, he argues that the Fourth of July is the darkest as well as most mournful day for slaves. In “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?”, Douglass uses the metaphor of a ship’s journey to explore America’s history. He first uses the metaphor when recounting the Founding Fathers’ struggle against the British government, in which they had to brace their metaphorical ship against the “chilling blasts of kingly displeasure.” Dehumanization, Metaphor and Irony Abstract: In his Fourth of July speech and autobiography, Frederick Douglass provides a curious narrative of dehumanization under American slavery: the enslaved’s humanity is simultaneously denied and acknowledged; there is offense in arguing the humanity of the dehumanized; and argument is not an In his speech "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" delivered on July 5, 1852, Frederick Douglass uses the term "ring-bolt" as a metaphor. He describes the Fourth of July as a pivotal point in American history—similar to how a ring-bolt serves as an anchor or support on a ship. Douglass emphasizes the irony of celebrating freedom while “It has made itself the bulwark of American slavery, and the shield of American slave-hunters" (79). Here, Douglass uses the metaphor of a bulwark—a defensive wall or structure—to criticize the Christian Church in America for enabling and supporting the existence of slavery. What to the Slave is the Fourth of July? study guide contains a biography of Frederick Douglass, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. The Fourth of July. The Fourth of July, of American Independence Day, is a central symbol in Douglass's speech. Whereas the holiday was traditionally celebrated by Americans on the anniversary of the drafting of the Declaration of Independence, Douglass lambasts his audience by asking them to see the Fourth of July as a different symbol. Situation of slave - 4th of July - America is supposed to be freedom but there are slavery - white people celebrating their freedom. Placement of two things closely together to emphasize comparisons or contrasts 4th of July and Slavery. Background (Frederick Douglass) Imagery and Metaphors In attempting to convey the horrors of the internal slave trade to his audience, Douglass uses a combination of visual, auditory, and kinesthetic imagery.
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