27 pages • 54-minute read
I Am Prepared to Die
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Literary Devices
Persuasion
Persuasion refers to the use of reasoning and logic to influence an audience. Effective persuasion requires a delicate balance between establishing credibility and evoking emotion. Mandela does not use his speech to plead innocence, but rather to persuade the audience (South African and international), to get behind his cause. He does this by probing the logic of the apartheid government in their accusations of communism, by confronting their own violence (while imprisoning him for lesser violence), and by exposing the harsh contrasts of living conditions between white and black South Africans.
An example of his persuasion is in his claim that violence has become inevitable. This is a statement that many might disagree with, without knowing many of the facts behind the case. Mandela continues to explain the history of failed peaceful protests, and the severity of force enacted by the apartheid police to substantiate his point. Furthermore, he downplays Umkhonto’s own form of violence by explaining that it had been the most humane choice with the most consideration for human life.
Contrast
Contrast signifies the differences between two subjects, in order to advance a point or theme. Mandela draws sharp contrasts between Umkhonto’s humanitarian struggle for freedom and the South African government’s harsh tactics of repression. Whereas Umkhonto’s violence is only focused on disrupting infrastructure, the apartheid government is responsible for massacres that have killed hundreds of protesters. Whereas Umkhonto works toward equality and freedom for South Africans of all races, the apartheid government works to preserve a system of inequality and oppression.
Mandela also contrasts his own political beliefs with Communism. The government uses “red scare” to convince the public that the ANC is interested in robbing citizens of their basic freedoms, but Mandela clarifies that he does not belong to either a capitalist or communist ideology. Rather, his politics borrows the best from both, and is inspired by his African upbringing.
In the final parts of his speech, Mandela also uses contrast to signify the unfair differences in living conditions between white and Black South Africans. He labels South Africa as the “land of extremes and remarkable contrasts” (86), and draws these contrasts along the lines of education, health, workers’ rights, and basic rights such as the right to vote and to freedom of movement.
Rhetorical Questions
A rhetorical question is stated for emphasis, rather than for seeking an answer. As Mandela delivers his speech from the dock, in a courtroom, he is the only one expected to speak. Therefore, when he poses questions, it is to emphasize the points that he is making. This device is used throughout, but in paragraph 44, Mandela uses this single device five times. The paragraph begins with the question, “How many more Sharpevilles would there be in the history of our country?” (44). The repetition of rhetorical questions after mentioning the tragic massacre signals that the anti-apartheid movement has run out of peaceful options, and that they are pushed toward violence, as no other answer remains.
Narrative
Narrative refers to storytelling, or connecting events in a manner that creates meaning for an audience. Mandela uses narrative to build his case that the ANC is a pro-democracy organization pushed toward violence by the increasingly violent tactics of its oppressor, the South African government. For example, to paint a picture of state violence, he interlinks many different instances of peaceful protests that turned hostile, or even fatal, due to police reaction. To explain how Umkhonto have arrived at sabotage, he expounds on narrative details surrounding the ANC, their origins and philosophies, and the freedom struggle that they have faced thus far.
Interestingly, Mandela constructs a non-linear narrative. This is a part of his persuasive rhetoric, as he calls on specific events from the past at the points when it would best serve his argument. For example, the first date he mentions is 1962, to discuss the creation of Umkhonto. However, the next date he mentions take us further back into the past, to 1912 and the origins of the ANC itself. Although he jumps around on the timeline, he interlinks these events in a way that best illustrates his narrative—the one that opposes that of the apartheid government.
Unlock all 27 pages of this Study Guide
Get in-depth, chapter-by-chapter summaries and analysis from our literary experts.
- Grasp challenging concepts with clear, comprehensive explanations
- Revisit key plot points and ideas without rereading the book
- Share impressive insights in classes and book clubs