After reading the first few lines of the poem “Declaration” we understand that people were mistreated by somebody who had power over them but we do not understand really the context of that until reading furthermore. Then I got to the idea that it was talking about the British King and the American colonies before they had their independence. After the war, the “him” the king started to take control of the colony’s life and changed the way they were treated. The author talk in the name of all the people who were suffering by using “we”, “our” showing that people shared his ideas and thoughts. Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury” which showed that word of the people did not mean anything to the king that is why we see the author not finishing all of his sentences but just using a dash as the idea was very clear but no change was coming from the king. So they had to fight and get their own freedom and become independent from him which is what we see in the picture. A group of American colonists, maybe the chosen ones from the general public to find a way, a strategy to win this war which was their last and only hope in a better life. They all seem in thought, nervous, and ready for what is to come as victory is not something certain fighting a country like Britain.
2 thoughts on ““Declaration” Rhetorical Analasys”
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Hey Laert!
When I initially read the poem, the first thing that came to mind was the American colonies and the British King. It made sense as the poem is what is more commonly known as a blackout poem. When I read it the second time, I realized that the poem could also relate to modern-day social justice issues. We could have interrupted this short poem in many ways. I can agree with your justification of the use of dashes. It can defiantly be understood that the author felt nothing was being done about each issue. Back then, the colonies were facing oppression by King George III. Fast forward a couple of years and Smith invokes the discrimination against minorities that seem to continue. Even though she published this back in 2017, you can bring into context the 2020 police brutality. There is so much to unpack in her short poem, but you definitely touched upon the major conflict presented.
The poem “Declaration” stumped me for a bit of time but I think your interpretation shows how poetry can be read in different ways. I interpreted the pronoun “he” to represent America as a whole and not specifically one person. I thought that Smith might have been making reference to the fact that the country as a whole allowed for the institution of slavery to occur. With that being said, I think your interpretation is important given the fact that the poem is called “Declaration” for the Declaration of Independence. I think your analysis makes sense given the context of the colonists being angered at the King but because this poem was written more recently, I wonder if Smith has a further agenda.