After reading Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass,...

After reading Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, it is clear to see the true horrors behind the entirety of slavery. It is one thing to learn about it from a textbook or to sit through a lecture, but it is a completely different experience to get an account of how grossly inhumane, frightening, and appalling slavery really was from someone who experienced the terrors first-hand. Reading this narrative provided extremely descriptive details of how slaves truly were treated. Douglass recounted the time where he had often: â€Å"been awakened at the dawn of day by the most heart-rending shrieks of an own aunt of mine, whom he used to tie up to a joist, and whip upon her naked back till she was literally covered with†¦show more content†¦Douglass’ main goal was to turn even the coldest of hearts into one that would be understanding and ultimately disgusted with the practices going on in the community. He uses and describes situations that anyone would easily be able to see from his perspective when he describes children being almost naked at any given moment of the day and going without water, food, or proper shelter. It is difficult to hear such stories about an innocent individual being so utterly mistreated along with family and friends and not be able to put yourself in their shoes. Besides becoming an enormous influence in President Abraham Lincoln’s decision to bring in black troops to serve in the Civil War, Frederick Douglass was an intelligent and strong human being who strove to truthfully make a difference in America. He proved that with determination, drive, and incredible amounts of effort that anything is possible and ready to achieve. He taught himself to become a wonderful public speaker by reading different texts aloud in order to be as clear and influential as possible through his words. He was also a stronghold for the rights of everyone around him and fought for those who were not able to have a voice of their own. Without his influence on America as a whole, the 200+ years of the terrors of slavery may have continued for many more years, and the nation we live in today could be completelyShow MoreRelatedRhetorical Devices In The Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass729 Words   |  3 PagesSlaves were not taught how to read and wri te because education is power, and with power, slaves could escape. Frederick Douglass said that â€Å"Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.† Frederick Douglass escaped from slavery with the power of education, and he wrote an autobiography, which shows the idea of freedom through the eyes of Frederick Douglass, and the connection between freedom and education. Douglass shows this through rhetorical devices and the elements of rhetoric. NarrativeRead MoreFrederick Douglass Vs. Harriet Jacobs987 Words   |  4 PagesFrederick Douglass v. Harriet Jacobs â€Å"We are not Americans; we are Africans who happen to be in America. We were kidnapped and brought here against out will from Africa. We did not land on Plymouth rock--that rock landed on us (â€Å"Malcolm X†).† Slavery began when Americans brought Africans to Virginia in 1619 to complete any field work that plantation owners did not want to do themselves (History.com Staff). Slavery lasted in America for 246 years and even after, African Americans were still treatedRead MoreEssay on Out of the Silence1445 Words   |  6 PagesThe slave narrative genre is an important part of American history. These stories are not only portraits of individual history, but also of American history. By reading the stories of the past we can better determine the path of the future. The personal stories of Frederick Douglass and Harriet Jacobs are two excellent examples of the slave narrative genre in American literature. To be sure, bondage and oppression had a lasting and profound effect on both genders; however, men and women experiencedRead More Martin Luther King Jr. and Frederick Douglass Essay1390 Words   |  6 PagesKing Jr. and Frederick Douglass When comparing two essays, there are many different aspects that the reader can look at to make judgments and opinions. In the two essays that I choose, MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. Letter from Birmingham Jail, and FREDERICK DOUGLASS From Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, there were many similarities, but also many differences. Some of them being, the context, style, structure and tone. Many times when readings or articlesRead MoreAnalysis Of Frederick Douglass s The Great House Farm 924 Words   |  4 PagesMr. Stadick American Literature - Green 26 September 2017 Within the Circle Early in his narrative, Frederick Douglass stresses his lack of understanding and his absence of a personal history due to being enslaved. 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Because of this, I feel it is much more effectual in displaying the issues of slavery to the reader than Harriet Beecher Stowe’sRead MoreFrederick Douglass, A Brave Man Who Escaped Slavery3423 Words   |  14 PagesSlaves were not considered citizens in America before the fourteenth amendment was added to the national constitution, and blacks held no rights within the law. The white people had total control over regulations and politics, and used that to their advantage to keep slaves and free blacks on an inferior societal level. Slaves had no records of a human being in a state, no name, title, or register. They couldn’t collect any money, make purchases, and they had no heirs, meaning they couldn’t makeRead MoreEducation in Fredrick Douglass1886 Words   |  8 Pagesof America English Literature 229.1 February 28, 2011 The Irony of Education in â€Å"Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass† The power of education in â€Å"Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass† is one of the most important themes in the entire work, but it is not a theme with a consistent meaning. Although Frederick Douglass understands that the only path to freedom, both for himself and fellow slaves, is through learning to read, write, and have an educational base to build on, he is atRead MoreSlavery’s Dehumanizing Effects on American Slaves and Slaveholders1638 Words   |  7 PagesNarrative 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. Douglasss 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 partRead MoreThe Life Of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave1917 Words   |  8 PagesThe United States, 1492 - 1865 06 April 2015 Humanization of Slaves (?) For a large portion of the United States history, slavery was legal and prominent in Southern society. Slaves working on plantations were the main proponent of Southern American economy. Slaves working in the United States during this time, especially those working on plantations in the South, suffered through horrible living and work conditions and punishment. Slaves were forced under duress to work for long hours, and were whipped