(Angie please put any info reguarding our essay together here. Thank you)
thesis: Whether John Downe knew it or not in 1830, he was using retorical strategies in his letter to his wife. It was these retorical strategies that helped Downe in his argument that his wife should emigrate to the United States. Amoung the retorical strategies Downe used were contrast, imagery, and a mixture between exageration and understatement.
Contrast
America vs. England
"here no man thinks himeslef superior"
"This is a country where a man can stand as a man, and where he can enjoy the fruits of his own exertions, with rational liberty to its fullest extent."
" the man which is really your superior does not plume himself on being so."
"Povety is unknow here. You see no beggars."
Imagery
Food
"pudding, pyes, and fruit of all kind that was in season, and preserves, pickles, vegetibles, meat"
Atmosphere
"outside of the market there was bullocks' and sheep and lambs' heads laying underfoot like dog's meat."
"there is plenty of room yet"
Emotions"'
childeren cry"
Exageration/Understatement
"everything that a person could wish"
" you can gather peaches, apples, and all kinds of fruit by the side of the roads."
" throw the rest away."
"thousands of years to come."
" you will find a few inconveniences"