Napoleon III’s banishment of the French writer Victor Hugo for creating writings that were deemed critical of the government incentivized English poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s crafting of a letter to the emperor, in which she employs various rhetorical strategies in order to implore him to pardon Hugo. In her petition, Browning constructs her argument with strong diction that emphasizes the intensity of her emotions as well as reverent appeals to the emperor’s noble authority and legacy in order to persuade him on an emotional level. Browning establishes a compelling letter to the emperor largely through using a variety of powerful adjectives that indicate her drive to pardon Hugo. Towards the beginning of her letter, Browning asserts
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An example is the “Ah sire” phrase that Browning injects prior to delving into her thoughts in order to project an air of courtesy and reverence. Moreover, Browning’s sense of revere for the emperor is apparent when she asserts: “but what touches you is, than no historian of age should have to write hereafter, ‘While Napoleon the Third reigned Victor Hugo lived in exile.’... magnanimity.” This quote form her letter is an effective rhetorical strategy as it indicates that she understands what matters to Napoleon, or what “touches” him, and therefore, is able to craft her argument in a way that appeals to his self-interests. She attracts Napoleon by suggesting to the emperor the reward that would follow pardoning Hugo: a long-lasting positive legacy. Towards the conclusion of her letter, Browning states: “I have believed in Napoleon the Third. Passionately loving the democracy... I will trust you besides for pardoning nobly. You will be Napoleon in this also.” Browning emphasizes the trust she has in Napoleon–based on his successful tenure– to judiciously pardon Hugo from exile. This praise makes Browning’s assertions more emotionally appealing as they reflect her respect and support for the
An example is the “Ah sire” phrase that Browning injects prior to delving into her thoughts in order to project an air of courtesy and reverence. Moreover, Browning’s sense of revere for the emperor is apparent when she asserts: “but what touches you is, than no historian of age should have to write hereafter, ‘While Napoleon the Third reigned Victor Hugo lived in exile.’... magnanimity.” This quote form her letter is an effective rhetorical strategy as it indicates that she understands what matters to Napoleon, or what “touches” him, and therefore, is able to craft her argument in a way that appeals to his self-interests. She attracts Napoleon by suggesting to the emperor the reward that would follow pardoning Hugo: a long-lasting positive legacy. Towards the conclusion of her letter, Browning states: “I have believed in Napoleon the Third. Passionately loving the democracy... I will trust you besides for pardoning nobly. You will be Napoleon in this also.” Browning emphasizes the trust she has in Napoleon–based on his successful tenure– to judiciously pardon Hugo from exile. This praise makes Browning’s assertions more emotionally appealing as they reflect her respect and support for the