Frederick Douglass Literary Techniques

Great Essays
Through literary techniques, writers are able to generate stories that arise sympathy and increase understanding of their audience, providing them with the tools necessary to bring change within society. This is demonstrated in Jacob and Douglass’s works as they embody the human correlation in races through their description of the dehumanizing body of slavery. In his autobiography, “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas”, set in the early to middle 1800s in the states of Maryland, New York, New Bedford and Baltimore, Frederick Douglas highlights the cruel aspects of slavery and his transition from a boy into a young man through his escape from slavery, serving as a source of inspiration for former slaves. Similarly in the slave narrative, …show more content…
The first time the contaminating effect appears in the narrative, it is illustrated through Mrs.Auld. When Douglass first meets here she is unaccustomed to the ways of slavery, and thus, had a completely different character than the whites he previously held relationships with. Mrs. Auld gives Douglass his first taste of education. However, slavery corrupted her goodness: The fatal poison of irresponsible power was already in her hands, and soon commenced its infernal work. That cheerful eye, under the influence of slavery, soon became red with rage; that voice, made all of sweet accord, changed to one of harsh and horrid discord; and that angelic face gave gave place to that of demon” (Douglass, 46). Even the pureness of Mrs.Auld could not withstand the dehumanizing powers of slavery. After being having his learning discontinued, Douglass sees literature as a mysterious weapon that could potentially be used to fight slavery. Over the next years, Douglass slowly taught himself to read and write, eventually establishing a Sabbath school in which other slaves were given the opportunity to do the same. Literacy established Douglass as man worthy of freedom and through the use of language he described how, regardless of the adversities faced, he was able to be determined and use literature as a guide to getting …show more content…
Jacobs carefully emphasizes the female slave’s acceptance of the social norms in her desire to remain chaste; sexual relationships outside of marriage were simply immoral and not accepted, implying the similarities between the women in both races. As Dr.Flint’s pursuits become more severe, Jacobs is forced with the code of protection that defy who she is as a person. Curtain that Dr.Flint will not succeed at last and full of shame Linda practically begs for her female audience’s sympathy, “What I am about to relate… I wanted to keep myself pure; and under the most adverse circumstances, I tried hard to preserve my self-respect; but I was struggling alone in the powerful grasp of the demon of Slavery; and the monster proved too strong for me” (Jacobs, 51). The reality of family separation- which was going on due to Dr.Flint’s obsessiveness, - was one of the very rare topics that created a bond between Linda and the slave audience . By mentioning this, Jacobs makes the melancholic novel more get more support from white females since she is basically letting them know that woman had the same sensitivity and makes them want to provide Linda and other female slaves under the same situation with the support that society wasn’t providing them. After

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Frederick Douglass was born a slave in 1818 and he escaped slavery in 1836. In his narrative, “Learning to Read and Write”, Douglass describes the various steps and struggles he encountered as he learned to read and write. Douglass’ narrative is clearly an emotional piece as evidenced by his use of diction, intense words and imagery. Analyzing Douglass’ emotional appeal through his diction, word choice and imagery will clarify how he conveyed his message, the inhumane treatment of slaves, to his audience. To understand Douglass’ diction and imagery, the audience and purpose have to be identified first.…

    • 839 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    “The political character of one’s actions is inextricably bound to the political status of one’s subjectivity.” So says Frank B. Wilderson III, a writer focusing on critical and racial theory. For many authors, their message is heavily impacted not only by how they relate to the message but their style of writing itself. In Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, the author has an incredibly personal connection to the anecdotes presented and retells his feelings regarding subjectivity when he was under the chains of slavery. However, Frederick Douglass does not only rely on retelling past experiences to convey a message to his readers.…

    • 265 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Frederick Douglass and His Use of Rhetorical Devices “The political character of one’s actions is inextricably bound to the political status of one’s subjectivity.” So says Frank B. Wilderson III, a writer focusing on critical and racial theory. For many authors, their message is heavily impacted not only by how they relate to the message, but through their style of writing itself. In Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, the author has an incredibly personal connection to the anecdotes presented and retells his feelings regarding subjectivity when he was under the chains of slavery. However, Frederick Douglass does not only rely on retelling past experiences to convey a message to his readers.…

    • 1138 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    “It makes the white fathers cruel and sensual: the sons violent and licentious; it contaminates the daughter, and makes the wives wretched. In a way it still effects the white family through denial. The slaves that are able to work were not able to spend as much time with their children. There children were often looked after by an older person. In Linda’s case her children were looked after by her grandmother.…

    • 2135 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    According to scholar Bush, many individuals in the White dominated society undermined the “social significance” of Black families since they believed that female slaves became mothers unintentionally and ended up neglecting their children because their primary responsibilities rested in their work as slaves (Bush 18). This “Mammy” stereotype describes mothers as being more loyal to their master’s family as opposed to their own. Jacobs’ inclination to nurture her children ultimately negates this stereotype that prevailed within the American society. To add on, Jacobs’ acts of resistance illustrate the notion of matrofocality as described by scholar Stevenson (177) since she holds the decision-making power of her family. For example, by escaping from the plantation, she implicitly makes the decision that her children will not be plantation slaves.…

    • 2057 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass was first published in 1845 in the city of Boston. Frederick appeals to human compassion throughout his narrative as he describes his personal encounters with slavery. From the Great House Farm to the bustling city of Baltimore, Frederick develops a mind of his own as he learns about his standing in the world. In chapter 6, Frederick claims that slavery detrimentally effects both slaves and their masters. Throughout the chapter Frederick used his experience with Sophia Auld and his journey to becoming illustrate to support his claim.…

    • 1234 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In Frederick Douglass's 1845 autobiography titled Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass An American Slave, Douglass stresses the miseries of the institution of slavery (as he recalled during the first six months of his stay with Mr Convey—his master). In his autobiography, Douglass addresses the toll that the institution of slavery had place on his “body, soul, and spirit” in which he explains to the ignorant Northern region of the United States, that the institution slavery is “hell” and degenerating. In his crusade in an attempt to end the institution of slavery, Douglass hopes to educate not only the North, but the entire world to realize slavery as a sinister practice. Through his use of barbaric diction, inhumane imagery, and dreary…

    • 706 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Informal Essay 3 Harriet Jacob’s and Frederick Douglass both became salves in their younger years. Through their narratives we are able to get a better understanding of how they were treated and what they experienced as slaves. However, their experiences and their style of writing about their life as a slave, greatly differs. They both present us with a “literary scene”.…

    • 956 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Douglass wanted to learn to read and write, still he had a few obstacles in his path. Noticeably, his biggest barrier was his enslavement; slaves were not educated, which included learning to read and write. Be that as it may, introduced to the concept by his Mistress, Douglass began learning the fundamental aspects of reading. However, she soon changed her mind and forbid Douglass to hold a newspaper and often accused him of reading books. Yet, his Mistress already began teaching him to read, thereby, introducing the idea of tangible knowledge.…

    • 496 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Whether it was the utilization of a traditional copy-book or Webster’s Spelling Book, Douglass would spend any free time he had committed to his own education. He even began using the child of his master – “I used to spend the time in writing in the spaces left in Master Thomas’s copy-book, copying what he had written. I continued to do this until I could write a hand very similar to that of Master Thomas” (38). The rise of literacy for enslaved people revolutionized the way those who were enslaved looked at their own agency in their existence both on and off the plantation. For Douglas, literacy served as not only a mode for liberation outside of the plantation but also survival within.…

    • 1230 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Moreover, in his literacy narrative Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Douglass stresses the importance literacy renders in his understanding of the concept of slavery and his escape to freedom from…

    • 1144 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Great Essays

    While acquiring his literacy, Douglass faced many obstacles, first off, his motivation to be free; followed…

    • 1226 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Frederick Douglass proves his ability in this essay, and helps the readers realize not only the…

    • 205 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Even though Frederick Douglass taught himself how to read, he still wasn’t at ease. For example, “ I often found myself regretting my own existence, and wishing myself dead; and but for the hope of being free, I have no doubt but that I should have done something to kill myself, or done something for which I should have been killed.” This quote shows that how bad Frederick Douglas’s conditions were. By learning how to read and write, he found out how much the white owners have done to his people. He wanted freedom more than a comfortable life that he had no control over.…

    • 1451 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Education is one of the most important themes in Frederick Douglass’ 1845 autobiographical memoir Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. However, despite the emphasis placed on education, it is presented as a double-edged sword. On one hand, Frederick Douglass feels that the only way to secure freedom for himself and his fellow slaves is to through learning how to read and write and receiving an education. On the other hand, education is presented as damaging to the mind as Frederick Douglass becomes increasingly aware of the full extent of his servitude. Throughout the memoir, Douglass presents education as a negative force on the psychology of the slaves as well as incompatible with the system of slavery.…

    • 1028 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays