Frederick Douglass Use And Abuse Of Power Quotes

In Frederick Douglass's memoir, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Douglass descriptly describes his life growing up as a slave and how he escaped slavery. The quote, “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 angry with rage; that voice made of all sweet accord; changed to one harsh and horrid discord; and that angelic face gave place to that of a demon” is very important part of the memoir (Douglass 19). He is describing the time in his life when his master’s wife stopped teaching and him and became mean. Sophia Adul became a slave to her own husband, Hugh Adul.

This quote contributes to the book as a whole, because it shows how one with tons power over others can do so much with it. Sophia Adul taught Frederick Douglass how to read and write. Until Hugh demanded her to stop and to start treating him like a true ‘slave’. Whatever Hugh wanted, he got. No matter what it was. People who have a lot of power can gain control over people very quickly.

Adul and Mrs. Adul’s relationship to a slave owner and the slave’s relationship. Most slaves lived in fear of their owner and did all their own asked of them so they would not get angry and beaten. Mr. Adul was very angry for teaching Frederick how to read and write, so when he told her to stop; she listened to him immediately. Sophia Adul obviously did not want to treat Frederick poorly nor did she want to stop teaching him, but she felt obligated to follow what he said, just like slaves feel obligated to do what their owners ask of them. Mr. Adul has control over Mrs. Adul, because she is afraid of him and she does not want him to be upset with