Louv Analysis Essay

In the year 1791, Benjamin Bannecker, the son of former slaves writes to Thomas Jefferson in order to persuade him to see the negatives of slavery.  To meet his goal efficiently, Bannecker speaks to the president in a respectful tone and, at the same time, emphasizes his points through irony and allusion.

            In order to show respect to the person he is trying to impress, Bannecker continuously refers to Jefferson as ‘sir.’  This repetition creates a more appealing persuasive technique, in which the possibility of Jefferson accepting Bannecker’s ideas, hopefully, increases.  It is through this that Bannecker can address his point while also addressing Jefferson’s higher status.  Not only is the repetition of the word “sir” what strengthens his writing, but also the way he structures it embellishes his message.  He starts off each paragraph with the word “sir” in order to reinstate and remind the president of his respectful nature and ability to be kind.  Through this, Bannecker hopes to obtain the respect of President Johnson in order to get him to reconsider his stand on slavery.

            Furthermore, Bannecker tries to persuade Jefferson into believing that slavery is bad through irony and allusion.  In an attempt to get Jefferson to see the mistakes he has made regarding slavery, Bannecker reveals his ironic form of leadership.  To do this, he illuminates the fact that while Jefferson was “So fully convinced of the benevolence of the father of mankind” while at the same time he “Counteract[s] his mercies” through “Captivity and oppression.”  By forcing Jefferson to reflect on his hypocritical nature, he hopes to illuminate the level of absurdity that slavery brings to the world.  The contrast between “benevolence” and “captivity and oppression” represents the goal vs. the memory.  Jefferson believes that God made all men equal, yet he isn’t doing a thing to help out the African-Americans that are being enslaved in his country. 

Similarly, Bannecker alludes to a passage in the bible in order to connect on a more personal level.  Bannecker wants Jefferson to “Put [his] soul in their souls stead” in order for him to truly understand that there is no good in his siding with slavery, but only evil.