Frederick Douglass Expository Essay

Knowledge and literacy posed great threats to the institution of slavery. The motivation to deprive chattel of the ability to read, write, and think independently was cunning and selfish, but the policy was extremely effective. Namely, illiterate slaves were more tractable and less likely to attempt an escape, being wholly unable to read “dangerous” abolitionist propaganda. Equally important, keeping blacks ignorant preserved another level of distinction between slaves and slaveholders. It is much easier to rationalize enslavement when the people being subjugated are perceived to be very different from their masters. Bearing this in mind, one can imagine how hazardous a chronicle of slavery penned by a slave himself must have been for slaveholders,

Certainly, the writer is an unabashed abolitionist, but the reader never finds him constructing a three-part thesis for his cause, or proving the evils of slavery with syllogisms. Instead, Douglass regales his audience with his experience of slavery. Repeatedly, he will begin a story with something to the effect of, “The facts in the case are these” (Chaps. 10, 11), and will then deliver exactly that. Hyperbole is wholly excluded, and comments or subjectivities are rare. This is a deliberate choice on the part of the author. In the examples cited, Douglass tells of a case in which he was severely beaten at his place of business, and another wherein a white man bought a slave to prostitute her. Other instances where he employs similarly calm, factual narration include the murders of a fellow slave man and of Douglass’ own cousin, a young girl who was clubbed to death while taking care of the master’s baby. Obviously, these are heinous crimes. Clearly, they could be springboards for strong arguments against slavery. However, by denying himself the chance to rant about his stories, Douglass makes his anti-slavery message even stronger. He understands, and makes the reader understand, that his story speaks for itself. He need not expound or exaggerate in order to prick the conscience of his audience, he only needs to give the