To Toussaint L' Ouverture is a sonnet that analyzes the Revolutionary hero himself, L'Ouverture. Originally a Haitian slave, L'Ouverture rebelled and led the Haitian Revolution, freeing Haiti from the grip of the French. In this sonnet, the speaker recounts the emotional aspect of L'Ouverture rather than his accomplishments as a hero. The sonnet starts out as the speaker shouts "the most unhappy Man of Men", implying that out of all men Toussaint is the unhappiest. The poet does not explain why he is unhappy but does insist that his unhappiness is known throughout the world, from the milk-maid to those who are captives in dungeons. The sonnet relies on imagery in order to create an emotional connection to the reader. As the speaker describes the "deep dungeon's earless den" I can imagine a cold, dark Medieval prison that has been forgotten by the world.
The volta occurs when the speaker tells Toussaint to "Live, and take comfort", assuring that although his hardships are present, he should continue to live with it rather than accept death. In my reading, I found a caesura in the previous line, after the phrase "never to rise again." While reading i noticed that after this line the poem takes a more positive outlook, so to create suspense the sonnet should be paused briefly. Incorporating these two literary tools allows the sonnet to reinforce its emotional tension.
The last line also has a powerful message which many people could overlook. "Man's unconquerable mind." The speaker is telling Toussaint the no matter what happens, the mind can never be overcome. This is exactly the type of advice a formerly enslaved individual would need. Even though the body can be bonded, the mind will never bend to the will of others. This last phrase also leaves the sonnet with a positive emotion. Even though the sonnet starts out with a depressive tone, the end is promising; much like a revolution seems grim and helpless in the beginning but the end is worth fighting for.
The volta occurs when the speaker tells Toussaint to "Live, and take comfort", assuring that although his hardships are present, he should continue to live with it rather than accept death. In my reading, I found a caesura in the previous line, after the phrase "never to rise again." While reading i noticed that after this line the poem takes a more positive outlook, so to create suspense the sonnet should be paused briefly. Incorporating these two literary tools allows the sonnet to reinforce its emotional tension.
The last line also has a powerful message which many people could overlook. "Man's unconquerable mind." The speaker is telling Toussaint the no matter what happens, the mind can never be overcome. This is exactly the type of advice a formerly enslaved individual would need. Even though the body can be bonded, the mind will never bend to the will of others. This last phrase also leaves the sonnet with a positive emotion. Even though the sonnet starts out with a depressive tone, the end is promising; much like a revolution seems grim and helpless in the beginning but the end is worth fighting for.
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