Frederick Douglass Memoir Analysis
analytical Essay
1667 words
Although Fredrick Douglass’ account of his interment as a slave outlines in many ways the typical life of an American slave, his narrative utilizes a subjectivity and in-depth perception of his treatment which creates a looking glass of 19th century American slave experience. The narrative itself works in part to both display Douglass’ personal and unique experiences as a slave while at the same time acting as a “cookie-cutter” for the American slave experience itself, that meaning that so many slaves existed in similar conditions to that of Douglass’ that the work doubles as a synopsis for slave lifestyle as a whole. This paper will analyze and expand on the experiences had by Douglass and also attempt to better explain the incidents he experienced throughout his life. Such examples will include Douglass’ account of life on the plantation, his culture shock from being transplanted to Baltimore from the plantation lifestyle and finally the overview of his life as a freedman in the state of New York. Using these particular points from the narrative, an overview of the slave experience with regards to psychological and psychosocial influence will also be reviewed and expanded upon to give the reader a more clear and concise understanding of Douglass’ work. Firstly, looking at the experiences Douglass describes having while living on Captain Anthony’s plantation, there are several elements detailed that reflect the psychological stresses experienced by American slaves that are relevant to modern researchers. Primarily is the practice of breaking apart family units of slaves in Maryland before they are even twelve months old to which Douglass speculates this is done as a way to destroy the child’s natural affection for their mother. ... ... middle of paper ... ...ass’ testimony to the trials and tribulations of American slavery in the 19th century certainly represents the pain and power of the institution of slavery. Works Cited Franklin, John Hope. From slavery to freedom: a history of Negro Americans. 3rd ed. New York: Knopf, 1967. McWhirter, Christian. "Schooling the Freed People: Teaching, Learning, and the Struggle for Black Freedom, 1861-1876."Alabama Review 66, no. 1 (01, 2013): 76-78. https://www.lib.uwo.ca/cgi-bin/ezpauthn.cgi/docview/1353643831?accountid=15115. Meier, August, and Elliott M. Rudwick. From plantation to ghetto. 3d ed. New York: Hill and Wang, 1976. Young, Jason. "Slavery, Civil War, and Salvation: African American Slaves and Christianity, 1830-1870." The Journal of American History 98, no. 3 (12, 2011): 831-832. https://www.lib.uwo.ca/cgi-bin/ezpauthn.cgi/docview/912857636?accountid=15115.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how fredrick douglass' narrative utilizes subjectivity and in-depth perception of his treatment which creates a looking glass of 19th century american slave experience.
- Analyzes how douglass' experiences reflect the psychological stresses experienced by american slaves. he speculates that breaking apart family units in maryland destroys the child's natural affection for their mother.
- Analyzes how douglass' account reflects a bias from the slave's perspective that all slave holders were too cold to care about the well-being of their bastard offspring.
- Analyzes how douglass' proverb, "better to be hung in england than to die a natural death in ireland," refers to the cultural beliefs of the time.
- Analyzes how douglass' account of being partly educated by his master, mrs. auld, is a reflection of how people in urban setting had more intimate relations with their slaves than plantation owners.
- Analyzes how douglass' testimony reflects the stereotypical freed-slave activity of becoming educated once out of slavery.
- Concludes that frederick douglass' account of his life as a slave represents one of the best examples modern scholars have of what the authentic slave experience was like.
- States franklin, john hope, from slavery to freedom: a history of negro americans, 3rd ed.
- Describes meier, august, and elliott m. rudwick. from plantation to ghetto.
Related
- analytical
- explanatory
- Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass Ethos Essayanalytical essayOvercoming a Life of Brutality In, “The Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass”, readers get a first person perspective on slavery in the South before the Civil War. The author, Frederick Douglass, taught himself how to read and write, and was able to share his story to show the evils of slavery, not only in regard to the slaves, but with regard to masters, as well. Throughout Douglass’ autobiography, he shares his disgust with how slavery would corrupt people and change their whole entire persona. He uses ethos, logos, and pathos to help establish his credibility, and enlighten his readers about what changes needed to be made.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how , frederick douglass, taught himself how to read and write, and was able to share his story to show the evils of slavery. he shares his disgust with how slavery would corrupt people and change their whole persona.
- Analyzes how douglass uses rhetorical appeal, ethos, to provide the credence of his statements and identify himself to the reader.
- Analyzes how douglass appeals to pathos in his narrative through quotes and traumatic events. by creating such an analogy, he provokes guilty and sympathetic emotion from his readers.
- Analyzes how douglass appeals to logos by persuading his audience to help abolish slavery and create a society of equality among humanity.
- Opines that frederick douglass' story and words touched many people, and helped diminish a severe slavery issue. his purpose to eliminate discrimination towards african americans has effectively reached thousands of readers.
616 wordsRead More - Frederick Douglass: The Psychological Approaches Used to Maintain the Institution of Slaveryanalytical essayWithin the “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave” Douglass discusses the deplorable conditions in which he and his fellow slaves suffered from. While on Colonel Lloyd’s plantation, slaves were given a “monthly allowance of eight pounds of pork and one bushel of corn” (Douglass 224). Their annual clothing rations weren’t any better; considering the type of field work they did, what little clothing they were given quickly deteriorated. The lack of food and clothing matched the terrible living conditions. After working on the field all day, with very little rest the night before, they must sleep on the hard uncomfortably cramped floor with only a single blanket as protection from the cold. Coupled with the overseer’s irresponsible and abusive use of power, it is astonishing how three to four hundred slaves did not rebel. Slave-owners recognized that in able to restrict and control slaves more than physical violence was needed. Therefore in able to mold slaves into the submissive and subservient property they desired, slave-owners manipulated them by twisting religion, instilling fear, breaking familial ties, making them dependent, providing them with an incorrect view of freedom, as well as refusing them education.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how douglass discusses the deplorable conditions in which he and his fellow slaves suffered from while on colonel lloyd’s plantation.
- Analyzes how slave owners forced a perverse form of christianity, one that condoned slavery, upon slaves. douglass's master, captain thomas auld, epitomizes the christian southern slaveholder.
- Analyzes how douglass describes a great deal of violence committed by slaveholders.
- Analyzes how douglass' paranoia and lack of trust among slaves is reinforced by the cutting of family ties. slaves from different plantations would argue over whose master was better.
- Explains that slaves' powerlessness causes them to depend on their masters for food, clothing, and shelter. this dependence on them was integral to the preservation of the master's power and the sustaining of slave society.
- Analyzes how slaves were encouraged to drink whisky during christmas and new year's holidays to ensure they remained dependent.
- Analyzes how douglass realized the true meaning of freedom when he started learning to read. his mistress, sofia auld, taught him the a, b, and c's.
- Analyzes how the disillusioned slave recognized that the success of the institution of slavery is based on the slave's illiteracy. slaveholders were adamant about withholding any knowledge from slaves.
- Analyzes how douglass unveiled every kink in the well-oiled machine known as slavery. he revealed the false christianity of the south, the nonsensical dependence of slaves upon their masters, and the lack of understanding of freedom.
- Cites gale encyclopedia of american law, donna batten's 3rd ed. vol. 13, detroit, 2011. the slave experience: living conditions.
- Cites tolson, claudette l., "white supremacy." encyclopedia of race and racism.
1326 wordsRead More - Frederick Douglassanalytical essayThis excellent biography fluently tells the life story of Douglass; one of the 19th centuries's most famous writers and speakers on abolitionist and human rights causes. It traces his life from his birth as a slave in Maryland, through his self-education, escape to freedom, and subsequent lionization as a renowned orator in England and the United States. Fascinating, too, are accounts of the era's politics, such as the racist views held by some abolitionist leaders and the ways in which many policies made in post-Civil War times have worked to the detriment of today's civil rights movement. The chapter on Frederick Douglass and John Brown is, in itself, interesting enough to commend this powerful biography. The seldom-seen photographs, the careful chapter notes, documentation, and acknowledgements will encourage anybody to keep on learning about Frederick Douglass.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that frederick douglass was born frederick augustus washington bailey on maryland's eastern shore in 1818. he was the son of a slave woman and her white master.
- Analyzes how douglass's life as a reformer ranged from the early 1840s to his attacks on jim crow and lynching in the 1890s.
- Analyzes how douglass was a master of irony, as illustrated by his famous fourth of july speech in 1852. he accused his unsuspecting audience of mockery for inviting him to speak.
- Describes how douglass welcomed the civil war in 1861 as a moral crusade against slavery.
- Opines that douglass became a symbol of his age and voice for humanism and social justice. his life and thought will always speak profoundly to the meaning of being black in america and the human calling to resist oppression.
- Evaluates the biography of frederick douglass, one of the 19th centuries's most famous writers and speakers on abolitionist and human rights causes.
560 wordsRead More - Frederick Douglass Slaveryanalytical essayThroughout the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, written by Frederick Douglass himself, the reader is given thoughtful insight into the slave condition and the institution of slavery as a whole. One learns very soon of the authoritative and controlling nature of the slave master, who, using the overseer as his pawn, is able to maintain control over his slaves and his planation through an amalgamation of both physical and mental abuse. Slaves are lead to believe that they are innately inferior to whites and are kept ignorant, unable to read or write, and unaware of the world outside their plantation. They are indoctrinated from birth through fear, for if any slave deviates from this merciless power structure, they face brutal punishment and even the possibility of death. Despite this seemingly insurmountable reality, Frederick Douglass, a slave for over twenty years, was able to resist. He gradually became aware of the psychology of the slave owners, and the immense power that they wielded. Douglass was able to escape the oppressive, exploitative, and controlling power structure of slavery by resolving to overcome his forced ignorance, and to unite his fellow slaves, realizing, along the way, his sense of self and innate integrity.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how frederick douglass, a slave for over twenty years, was able to escape the oppressive, exploitative, and controlling power structure of slavery by resolving to overcome his forced ignorance and unite his fellow slaves.
- Analyzes how douglass learns of the rotten foundation of slavery--ignorance, and realizes that the pathway to freedom is through literacy.
- Analyzes how douglass, who was separated from his mother as an infant, understood the importance of fostering a sense of belonging and loyalty to one's fellow slaves.
- Analyzes how frederick douglass is introduced to the horrors of slavery as a child, when he witnesses the beating of his aunt hester. the brutal physical abuse and paralyzing fear of possible abuse serve as the cement that holds the institution together.
- Analyzes how douglass realizes the injustices done to his people and learns about the slave system. he fights back against covey and attains integrity and dignity.
- Analyzes how the narrative is an insightful account of the psychology of slave owners and the merciless power the institution as a whole. frederick douglass refused to fall prey to this immoral system, resolving instead to fight back.
1390 wordsRead More - Fredrick Douglassanalytical essayIt is in the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, that Douglass informs the reader not only of “how a man is [mentally] made a slave; you [also] see how a slave [is mentally] made a man” (75). Douglass informs the readers that slaves were often separated from their family members, by their slave owners because owners felt; slaves who had relationships would be a greater threat together than they would be if they were separated. In this novel, Douglass addresses the significance of the relationships that existed between slaves and their loved ones; he also shows how the absence of these relationships affected the slave’s state of mind and helped contribute to the formation of a slave’s identity.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how douglass informs the reader that slaves were often separated from their family members, by their slave owners because they felt that they were a greater threat together.
- Explains that slave owners enforced the separation of slaves from their friends and families at birth. slave owners feared that they would run the risk of slavery uniting and planning a revolution.
- Analyzes how douglass never enjoyed his mother's soothing presence or her tender and watchful care. friends and family were a secure way for slaves to escape the feelings of pain left by enslavement.
- Narrates how douglass developed trusting friendships with fellow slaves and was prepared to proceed with his plan to escape.
- Analyzes how douglass' narrative shows the reader why ties between slaves and their friends and families were so important.
- Analyzes how the separation from families and friends affects a slave's identity. douglass' absence from the love of his mother helped develop him into the man that he was.
886 wordsRead More - The Narrative of Fredrick Douglassanalytical essayIn the passage of the Narrative of Fredrick Douglass, the author masterfully conveys two complimentary tones of liberation and fear. The tones transition by the use of diction and detail. The passage is written entirely in first person, since we are witnessing the struggles of Fredrick Douglass through his eyes. Through his diction, we are able to feel the triumph that comes with freedom along with the hardships. Similarly, detail brings a picturesque view of his adversities. Since the point of view is first person, the reader is able to be a part of the Douglass’ struggles with his new freedom. With diction, detail, and point of view, the reader is able to get a rare glimpse into the past of Fredrick Douglass.Fredrick Douglass’ diction is powerful as he describes his life as a slave and with his new freedom. Fredrick Douglass calls being enslaved an act of “wretchedness,” yet he was able to remain “firm” and eventually left the “chains” of slavery. Fredrick Douglass expresses that being enslaved is a wretched act and that no man should ever deserve such treatment. Despite being a slave, he kept strong and eventually broke the chain of society. However, Fredrick Douglass experienced great “insecurity” and “loneliness” with his new freedom, and was upon a new “hunting-ground.” His new freedom brought other devastating factors, being a new state without any friends, which caused his loneliness. In this new state, he grew insecure for he was in a new danger zone where at any time his freedom could be rejected. With new freedom come new obstacles, which are described in the diction of Fredrick Douglass.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how conveys two complimentary tones of liberation and fear in the narrative of fredrick douglass.
- Analyzes how the detail present in the narrative conveys the tones of liberation and fear.
- Analyzes how the point of view of the narrative consistently remains constant in the passage. fredrick douglass had freedom at his feet, yet each new direction in his life led to different obstacles.
- Analyzes how fredrick douglass combines stylistic devices to produce a narrative using different, yet complimentary tones. the tone of liberation is present when he describes the joys of no longer having to bear the suffering society forced him to have.
732 wordsRead More - In sum, all of these key arguments exist in “The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass” because of the institution of slavery and its resulting lack of freedom that was used to defend it. This text’s arguments could all be gathered together under the common element of inequality and how it affected the practical, social, and even spiritual lives of the slaves.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes the key arguments in "the narrative of the life of frederick douglass", including inequality, education, and christianity as the keys to freedom within the institution of slavery.
- Analyzes how douglass portrays african-american slaves as human beings like their white counterparts, and argues that perceptions of inequality are flawed.
- Analyzes how the power of education was a key argument in "the narrative of the life of frederick douglass".
- Analyzes how douglass juxtaposes both forms of christianity to reveal the underlying hypocrisy of slavery in the south and the future value of his version of true christianity.
- Analyzes how douglass, a fugitive, uses examples of his life to prove each corruption to make his appeal to the oppressors effective.
- Analyzes how all of these key arguments exist in "the narrative of the life of frederick douglass" because of slavery and its resulting lack of freedom that was used to defend it.
1143 wordsRead More - 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 physical burdens of slavery that he faced on a daily basis, it was the psychological effects that caused him the greatest amount of detriment during his twenty-year enslavement. In the same regard, Douglass is able to profess that it was not only the slaves who incurred the damaging effects of slavery, but also the slaveholders. Slavery, in essence, is a destructive force that collectively corrupts the minds of slaveholders and weakens slaves’ intellects.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how douglass's life-story creates a compelling argument against the justification of slavery.
- Illustrates how slaveholders used contrived strategies to justify keeping an entire race of people enslaved. they used any possible means to gain power over blacks, making them vulnerable.
- Explains that slavery's destructive nature inflicted on slaves was that they were mentally oppressed in the area of education. the reason behind this was no mystery to douglass.
- Opines that it was necessary to keep our religious masters at st. michael's unacquainted with the fact that instead of spending the sabbath in wrestling, boxing, and drinking whisky, we were trying to learn how to read the will of god.
- Analyzes how douglass learned to read, and the injustices of the system became transparent to him, inspiring him to work harder to attain freedom. slaves attributing education was the epiphany that the slaveholders did not want to witness.
- Explains how the system of slavery was damaging to a slave's intellect. many slaveholders found that the easiest way to accomplish this task was by brainwashing them into believing that they are living marvelous lives.
- Narrates how they traced their first glimmering conception of the dehumanizing character of slavery.
- Analyzes how douglass' form of mental captivity is imprisonment through complacency. the slaves are resigned to their condition and unaware of the possibility of a better future in the outside world.
- Analyzes how douglass shows the slaves' ignorance of any way of life other than the one they endure by serving under hugh auld in baltimore.
- Analyzes how slavery corrupts and mentally enslaves the white slaveholder, sophia auld, invoking images similar to those of a demonic possession.
- Analyzes how douglass argued that slaveholders' minds were corrupted by slavery and used the christian faith to rationalize their behavior of treating the slaves like animals and disrespecting slave families and marriages.
- Analyzes douglass' narrative to show the barbarity and injustice of slavery, but the underlying argument is that freedom is achieved through a mental liberation from the attitude created by southern slavery.
1652 wordsRead More - Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglassanalytical essayFrederick Douglass was born in Maryland in 1818 as a slave to a maritime captain, Captain Anthony. After decades of enslavement, Frederick Douglass escaped to the North and became one of the prominent members and drivers of the abolitionist movement. In an effort to provide an eye-opening account of the harsh treatment of slaves, Douglass wrote Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. In his autobiography, Frederick Douglass detailed his life beginning from his meager early years through his escape to the North. In writing his autobiography, Douglass utilized a variety of techniques including the use of the three rhetorical strategies: Ethos, Pathos and Logos to create a powerful and influential argument against the institution of slavery in America.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how douglass used the rhetorical strategy of pathos to promote and validate his view that slavery is morally wrong.
- Analyzes how frederick douglass, using the rhetorical device of ethos, lends credibility to his writings regarding slavery because he experienced slavery.
- Analyzes how douglass utilized the rhetorical device known as logos to argue the wrongfulness of slavery.
- Analyzes how frederick douglass used ethos, pathos, and logos to create a powerful and influential argument against slavery in america.
- Analyzes how douglass uses logos to demonstrate to his readers that even benign holidays can be made into a tool of subjugation.
1212 wordsRead More - Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass Summaryexplanatory essayThe book I decided to read about is called “The Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass.” This book is actually an autobiography about his real life experiences. The author of “The Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass is of course Frederick this book was produced by him when he was 27 years old back in 1845. This book was produced in Massachusetts, but the settings of the story were in Eastern Shore of Maryland, Baltimore, New York City, New Bedford and lastly, Massachusetts. The main themes on this book would be how white slaveholders kept the slaves ignorant without an education and basically how the black people were mistreated. The only way Douglass found the way out was by getting educated in order for he can free himself.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that "the narrative of the life of frederick douglass" is an autobiography about his real life experiences. the main themes on this book would be how white slaveholders kept the slaves ignorant without an education.
- Narrates how they were surprised by the time period of the book because they never thought black people were mistreated as badly. douglass tried to escape from slavery, and fredrick campaigned to abolish slavery.
- Narrates how captain anthony is the clerk of colonel lloyd's plantation called "great house farm" where slaves were treated badly. slaves received little food, clothing, beds, and no private space.
- Explains how douglass was treated decently by the overseers at the great house farm. when his mother died, he moved to baltimore and learned how to read and educate others on his own.
- Opines that frederick's main purpose of writing this book was to end slavery. many people didn't know black people were treated differently simply because of their race.
816 wordsRead More