Genre
Epistolary novel
Setting and Context
The book is set in America in the context of the slave trade and nationalism.
Narrator and Point of View
Third-person narrative
Tone and Mood
Sad, Pessimistic, disheartening
Protagonist and Antagonist
James is the protagonist of the story.
Major Conflict
The main conflict is that slaves are mistreated and left to die in cages.
Climax
The climax comes when James concludes that American ideals do not condone slavery and should be stopped with immediate effect.
Foreshadowing
The birth of American Nationalism foreshadowed freedom of speech and association. Consequently, marginalized groups such as blacks have a voice to defend their rights as American citizens.
Understatement
The American ideal of independence is understated. Despite America being a free state, black citizens are used as slaves, which contradicts American ideals.
Allusions
The story alludes to the birth of American nationalism and slavery.
Imagery
The images of the melting pot and slavery depict sight imagery to aid readers to see how people suffer in the hands of slave owners.
Paradox
The main paradox is that the only people enjoying the freedom of independence are the white men. The blacks are regarded as slaves and inferior human beings who do not qualify for equal treatment.
Parallelism
Slavery parallels the freedom and privileges enjoyed by the whites after independence.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
N/A
