Final answer:
John Greenleaf Whittier's poem uses vivid imagery and emotional rhetoric to convey the inhumanity of slavery and support abolitionism. His graphic descriptions and rhetorical questions highlight the shared humanity to promote empathy and moral reasoning against slavery.
Step-by-step explanation:
Imagery and Rhetoric in John Greenleaf Whittier's Abolitionism
John Greenleaf Whittier's antislavery poem, "Our Countrymen in Chains," uses vivid imagery and rhetoric to appeal to the emotions of readers and promote the cause of abolitionism. Whittier employs graphic descriptions of the suffering endured by enslaved individuals, such as chains and pleas for recognition of their humanity. These poignant images alongside rhetorical questions, such as "Am I Not a Man and a Brother?" and "Am I Not a Woman and a Sister?" are used to evoke empathy and highlight the moral wrongness of slavery, strengthening the abolitionist argument against the institution.
The use of this evocative language and questioning draws attention to the shared humanity between enslaved individuals and the reader, urging a society built upon equality and freedom. Whittier's work exemplifies moral suasion, a tactic used by abolitionists to turn public opinion against slavery by emphasizing its inherently immoral nature.