Chief Seattle establishes himself as a leader in his speech of 1854 through the use of literal devices. Throughout his speech Seattle freely voiced his opinion on the “white man”. It is made known that his is very disgruntled with what the white man is doing to the Earth, which is treating the land and all that inhabitants it with little to no respect. Seattle’s use of personification, emotional words, and repetition created a strong, empowering speech that built and proved him as a faith-based authority figure. Chief Seattle’s speech of 1854 used personification throughout in order to develop a divine emotional connection between him and the land. This is expressed when he states, “The perfumed flowers are our sisters; the deer, the horse, the great eagle, these are out brothers.” Additionally, the use of personification expressed the importance of the …show more content…
Seattle states, “The whites too shall pass; perhaps sooner than all other tribes. Contaminate your bed and you will one night suffocate in your own waste.” This statement can be broken down and related to the “white man”. The white man pollutes the Earth in the eyes of the red man. One day the white man will be suppressed in his own creations and actions. This shows why Seattle’s viewpoint on his land is so significant to his and his nation. Chief Seattle was a much respected leader who maintained a religious mindset. He effectively used literary devices such as, personification, repetition, and the appeal to fear throughout his writing. Each device could pinpoint a different audience, creating an emotion filled speech. Chief Seattle successfully stated the viewpoint of the “white man” in the eyes of the red and thoroughly justified why the Earth is sacred to all red men, instilling into the audience why respect of the land is