The Declaration of Independence

Metonymy is a type of metaphorical language in which an object is used to refer to another that is closely related to it. The term originates from a Greek phrase that means “change of name,” and the use of metonymy allows writers to shorten a longer term or simply avoid repetition. For example, a writer might refer to “the White House” rather than “the executive branch of the United States federal government.” The use of the White House conveys the same meaning but gives the reader something easier to visualize.

In the Declaration of Independence, the repeated use of “he” is a metonym for the King of Great Britain, which itself is a metonym for the government of Great Britain as a whole. Similarly, at the end of the text, the colonists absolve themselves of all Allegiance to the British “Crown,” another metonym for the British government. By using metonymy, Jefferson shortens the text while also creating clear images for the reader. Rather than railing against the government in the abstract, he makes the reader outraged at the abuses of one man, even when those abuses were committed by several men, including the British Parliament. This device stirs the emotions of the reader by making specific items and individuals stand for an entire system of government.