er Africans do as well which strengthens his argument that slavery should be abolished because they are intelligent human beings.Finally, Equiano uses the literary element syntax in the above passage to reiterate the overall theme that slavery should end, and to reiterate the sub-theme that a set way of life, traditions, and/or customs exist among the Africans which makes them civilized and deserving of freedom. Equiano asks the reader rhetorical questions, an indirect approach to persuade the audience. These questions make the reader think logically, which makes the readers be truthful with themselves and see that slavery is simply wrong. For instance, Equiano asks, " Are slaves more useful by being thus humbled to the condition of brutes, than they would be if suffered to enjoy the privileges of men?" (Equiano, 80). The reader does not have to answer to anybody concerning his/her true feelings about slavery. Therefore, the reader has no problem in his/her mind with answering this logical question truthfully. The logical answer to this question is "No." Though the reader may not verbalize their opinions on the matter of slavery, Equiano's rhetorical questions, such as the one just mentioned above, is a good way of remaining humble, indirect, and a good way of inspiring conviction. Conviction brings on shame; shame brings on change. Equiano uses another form of syntax in the narrative besides rhetorical questions. He uses anaphora. Equiano argues that, " When you make men slaves, you deprive them of half their virtue, you set them, in your own conduct, an example of fraud, rapine, and cruelty, and compel them to live with you in a state of war; and yet you complain that they are not honest or faithful" (Equiano, 80). He repeats the word "you" in each clause of this sentence to force the reader to acknowledge that they are the cause of the existence of hatred and the spirit of rebellion in the slaves' hearts and to refute the i...
