Douglass Example Essay

In Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Douglass explains, in great detail, how slave master would use a variety of methods to dehumanize slaves located on their plantation. These methods involved both severe physical and psychological trauma. Nevertheless, Douglass remains diligent and finds a way to resist the harsh reality of being a slave. Because of his immovable desire to acquire knowledge to his fighting encounter with Mr. Covey, these experiences help shape Douglass to be the archetype of what it means to go from slavery to freedom. This essay will highlight the physical and psychological tactics used on slaves. In addition, the aspect of how Douglass resists the

When his term with Mr. Edward Covey ends on 25 December 1833, Douglass reveals a feeling of disgrace when he is appalled by the slaveholders who are forcing the slaves to drink wine and whiskey, since it was “a disgrace not to get drunk on Christmas” (44) and, when the Christmas holidays end, the slaves, who the slaveholder “cheats… with a dose of vicious dissipation, artfully labelled… liberty,” are willing to go back to work, choosing to rather be “slaves to man as to rum.” (45). While the slaveholders capitalizes on the slave’s ignorance and negligence to play the game of trickery, Douglass exposes his detestation of the course of action for the “cunning slaveholders” (45). Later, as Douglass appeals to a feeling of disappointment when he meets Henry and John Harris and utilizes their yearning of freedom to attempt escaping, but fail. As MacKethan puts it, “the American definition of man and the American concept of freedom could no longer be denied to… [Douglass]… or by logical extension to any other slave” (“From Fugitive”). In summary, MacKethan attempt to reveal the inhumanity of the slaves by hinting

In the Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass: an American Slave, written by himself, the author argues that slaves are treated no better than, sometimes worse, than livestock. Douglass supports his claim by demonstrating how the slaves were forced to eat out of a trough like pigs and second, shows how hard they were working, like animals. The author’s purpose is to show the lifestyle of an American slave in order to appeal to people’s emotions to show people, from a slave’s perspective, what slavery is really like. Based on the harsh descriptions of his life, Douglass is writing to abolitionist and other people that would sympathize and abolish slavery.

Douglass’s narrative is a courageous work, as it confronts the slavery institution, and the misuse of Christianity by the slave owners

Another literary technique that Douglass uses in his narrative is ethos. Ethos appeals to a writer’s character or credibility. Christianity is Douglass’s focus throughout his narration. He uses it to show the ethical irregularities essential to the practice of slavery. It’s particularly moving in chapter ten in the character of Edward Covey. Mr. Covey looks at himself as a very religious and spiritual Christian and attempts to swindle himself and God, however his evil actions expose him to be nothing more than a two-faced sinner. Douglass stated that Mr. Covey’s “…life was devoted to planning and perpetrating the grossest deceptions. Every thing he possessed in the shape of learning or religion, he made conform to his disposition to deceive.” This linked the readers by portraying an extremely clear sample of the ethical paradox of being a Christian and a slave owner.

Covey for a year. Mr. Covey had a reputation for setting slaves straight. The agreement was that Covey could use the slave in the fields. One day, Douglass collapsed in the barn because he was so tired. Covey happened to come by and kicked Fredrick and started beating him. This shows how cruel Covey was. A couple days after the beating, Covey jumped on Fredrick and he decided to fight back. After a long fight, Covey gives up and does no harm to Fredrick for the rest of his time there. This gives Fredrick the courage that is very important when he

In addition to Jacobs’ account, Douglass’ narrative focused on his journey through manhood and freedom – “…I wished I could be as free as they would be when they got to be men … ‘Have not I as good a right to be free as you have?’” (Douglass, Chapter VII) – as well as, “This battle with Mr. Covey was the turning-point in my career as a slave. It rekindled the few expiring embers of freedom, and revived within me a sense of my own manhood.” (Douglass, Chapter X). He had no freedom, but when he decided to fight back against the evil hand of slavery, he found it and made it his own. As a slave, he had no right to freedom, which in turn belittled his own manhood. His fight with Mr. Covey restored his sense of honor, his entitled manhood, as well as a spark of freedom he did not previously have.

In December, slaves were given a few weeks off of work and could spend their time as they please. The masters encouraged the slaves to engage in merriment and indulge themselves with alcohol. Douglas states that the purpose of this break it to appease the slaves so they have some reprieve and cannot claim that they are constantly worked. However, it could be argued that the masters also encourage slaves to engage in these types of activities during the break, so that they do not find work elsewhere which would enable them to acquire money (which eventually might be used to acquire their freedom). By showing that the slaves are not using their free time to its full potential, slave owners were able to project the idea that slaves were not intelligent enough to make the best financial decisions for themselves. Therefore, under this logic, it would be best for slaves to work for the slave owners, and in return slave owners would provide the necessities to ensure an adequate quality of life (which slave owners rarely did in

Seventy-six years, though a good old age for a man, is but a mere speck in the life of a nation… There is hope in the thought, and hope is much needed, under the dark clouds which lower above the horizon. Douglas is starting to pave the way for his argument on slavery. He then starts on the American Revolution and their fight for freedom under the tyranny of British rule. He reminds the audience that, in 1776 many people thought it was dangerous to revolt against the British. Later in 1852 though, “to say now that America was right, and England wrong, is exceedingly easy.” In much similarity he states that in 1852 many people consider abolitionism a dangerous political stance. Douglas then implies that future generations will consider his stance reasonable. Douglas then goes on to the real purpose of his speech arguing about slavery and why it's wrong. One of the key differences between Calhoun and Douglass is that douglass was more fiery when it came to giving speeches. For example, At a time like this, scorching irony, not convincing argument, is needed. O! had I the ability, and could I reach the nation’s ear, I would, to-day, pour out a fiery stream of biting ridicule, blasting reproach, withering sarcasm, and stern rebuke. For it is not light that is needed, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake. What, to the American slave, is your 4th of

(3) When first reading these narratives one would often assume, by what history tells us, that slave owners were cruel, hated men who often beat slaves severely if they committed even the slightest infraction. While this depiction does stand true for some slave owners, I was surprised to find that most of the former slaves interviewed in the “Slave Narratives” often held their masters in high regards, referring to them as kind and good. Former slave Harriett Gresham even goes as far to say that her master, Mr. Bellinger was “exceptionally kind”. Many slaves in the narratives described their masters as good to his slaves and never whipping them unless it was absolutely necessary. However, when the former slaves spoke of the “paterollers”, white men who roamed the roads in search of runaway slaves often beating them and returning them to their owners, they were described as being very cruel to slaves showing no sympathy to any slave found running away from a

In 1833 Douglass was sent to a “slave breaker” who flagellated him constantly in an effort to physically and mentally break him down. Finally after 6 months of working with covey in all kinds of weather conditions every day except Sunday, Douglass was “broken in body, soul, and spirit.”(Douglass 2064-2128) Douglass lost the will to do anything intellectually he was numbed expressively “my intellect languished, the disposition to read departed, the cheerful spark that lingered about my eye died…” (Douglass 2064-2128). After enduring this treatment he tried to get protection from his former master and absconded to him. After this covey was set on beating Douglass to death and in a stable he tried where Douglass fought back and told covey “that he had used me like a brute for six months, and that I was determined to be used so no longer.”(Douglass 2064-2128) Only until Douglass seized this opportunity was he no longer subject to covey’s yoke of oppression. No longer bound his mind was free to soar and he was able to pen his autobiography in addition he was also an abolitionist who helped end slavery. His path through slavery was harsh and it took great patience to withstand that condition and to rise up. His experience of slavery was no different than any other slave of the time

comes in hand, enabling him to go into the closest of detail of his own experiences as a slave: “I had been at my new home but one week before Mr. Covey gave me a very severe whipping, cutting my back, causing the blood to run, and raising ridges on my flesh as large as my little finger,” (Douglass 101.) Notice how all he does is detail the incident. He doesn’t speak of how this made him feel or what he wanted to do in response. This neutrality removes him from the picture and lets the sequence of events speak as loudly as they do for themselves.

Covey underscores how slaveowners’ defense of slavery with religion was something said and not done. In fact, Douglass even asserts that slaves have a solid faith and the “help” of their white masters is not needed and even detrimental. As opposed to Mr. Covey’s false Christianity, Douglass attributes slaves to having true Christianity, evidencing this by his own great ability to sing versus his master’s poor singing. Mr. Covey was “a very poor singer himself, the duty of raising the hymn generally came upon [Douglass]” (82). Douglass’ ability to sing the hymnals represent his strong grasp on Christianity, whereas Mr. Covey’s poor singing portrays his hypocrisy and distance from the faith. Contrary to the plantation myth, Mr. Covey, the slaveowner is dependent on Douglass, his slave. This role reversal emphasizes the how the South’s claim to be carrying out a Christian duty was flawed.

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave, brings to light many of the social injustices that colored men, women, and children all were forced to endure throughout the nineteenth century under Southern slavery laws. Douglass's life-story is presented in a way that creates a compelling argument against the justification of slavery. His argument is reinforced though a variety of anecdotes, many of which detailed strikingly bloody, horrific scenes and inhumane cruelty on the part of the slaveholders. Yet, while Douglas’s narrative describes in vivid detail his experiences of life as a slave, what Douglass intends for his readers to grasp after reading his narrative is something much more profound. Aside from all the

Slavery had an immense impact on African American families, as the familial dynamic of the African American family was in many ways responsible for the stereotypes surrounding black families in the present moment. Not only were families the sole property of their slave owner, but there were laws restricting their rights and privileges. However, despite the fact that the African American slave family existed in a perpetually tumultuous state, there were cohesive slave families, but they faced many struggles and challenges. In particular, black women were faced with incredible hardships with regard to sustaining the familial structure. This paper explores aspects of the African American family structure during slavery, considering the effect that slavery had on black women. The legacy of slavery in the present moment is also considered, in addition to whether slavery continues to exist.