Final answer:
Frederick Douglass's speech is characterized by passionate conviction and eloquence, effectively using ethos and pathos to argue against slavery. His authoritative personal experiences and emotional narrative appeal to readers, emphasizing the cruelty of slavery and the transformative power of literacy and truth.
Step-by-step explanation:
The tone of Frederick Douglass's speech is one of passionate conviction and eloquence. Douglass uses his tone to draw readers into the emotional core of his experiences, effectively utilizing both ethos and pathos to make his case against the institution of slavery.
His authoritative voice, drawn from personal experience, establishes his credibility (ethos) and allows him to express the sophisticated complexities of the harm inflicted by slavery both on the enslaved and the slaveholders.
Douglass's tone also appeals to the emotions (pathos) of his audience, particularly in passages that describe the profound impact that literacy and learning had on his life. For example, his reflections on the transformative power of language and the sense of purpose it ignited within him are recounted with a rhythm and poetic phrasing that emphasize his masterful command of language.
Additionally, Douglass's description of specific incidents and characters—such as the compassionate individual who provided 'bread for the hungry'—are vivid and emotionally resonant, further strengthening his appeal to readers' sympathies.
The historical context in which Douglass was writing—pre-abolition America—likely influenced his rhetorical strategies, leading him to make certain decisions about the content and tone of his Narrative. His writing not only demonstrates the power of truth in creative nonfiction but also serves as a testament to the impact of orality and literacy in the pursuit of freedom and justice.