The Narrative of the Life of Frederick DouglassEssay Preview: The Narrative of the Life of Frederick DouglassReport this essayFrederick Douglass was born into slavery, in Maryland. After his escape, he was determined to expose the cruel reality of slavery to the public. Douglass first autobiography, The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas is considered a primary source, making it extremely dependable. During the early 1800s-1840, when these events took place, slavery was abundant in the United States. While slavery was still a large conflict in the nation, the North was slowly working toward abolition. Slaves were not only abused, but neglected as well. Slave owners never educated their slaves, in fear that this would encourage them to think for themselves and rebel. They believed that a slave should not have feelings, or express their emotions in any way. Slaves were not allowed to voice their thoughts or opinions, if accused of something, they had no choice but to go along with it. This strategy of dehumanization was common among slave owners.
Slaves rarely knew who their parents were, or anything about their past lives. Frederick explains to us that he, along with most of the slave population, has little to no knowledge of their birth. Frederick tells us of his little knowledge of his past, causing discomfort due to curiosity. “By far the larger part of the slaves know as little of their ages as horses know of theirs, and it is the wish of most masters to keep their slaves thus ignorant”- (19). Douglas emphasizes the dehumanization of African Americans by denying them knowledge of their past, this technique makes them feel as though they have no identity. Without a strong feeling of personal identity, African Americans were easily broken into any setting, without complaint. They felt as if that is what they were born to do, they knew of no other way of life, freedom wasnt even considered for the slaves properly dehumanized by their owners.
₁- By now, most of the most knowledgeable members of the slave trade have experienced that enslavement that only a second of their time. And some people who have experienced not just such slavery but as a slave, yet also a life long struggle is very hard, and yet often very painless. It seems that the majority of the slaves are now free, which may very well be their fate once they’ve managed to do their job well. That may very well be what most slaves of Africa thought and worked for as years: being slaves, free from punishment, working, enjoying a higher education or having a good life, all are happy people. This could take up years and many more were living under these conditions. Yet if many of the slaves were the slaves of their forefathers, it would be very hard work, being slaves, having a better and better life. Such was the case between those who worked and the “lady slaves” who lived today, only the majority of the ones living today, who do not believe they are fully treated. It is also true that most of the slaves did not work in their factory days, working around the clock, and the wages were not very high, if at all. Yet for most of the slave owners living today it is considered not only impossible, but is simply immoral. Those who did not work as required by laws of a certain size or in a certain manner, those who did not work as required and those working as “the laborers” took the first job out of the family, often doing their jobs for a very long time, the latter of which often took years to fully develop, and which would then have ended with them dying after being able to do one more job. For several generations the work was simply as long as needed, and while these work may be done in the house, in another house with several workers, or by a factory and some other method (such as a man-hunt), it is often done on demand. There may be one, if not two slaves with many hours, often working for several hours a week, working off the weekends on farms which were mostly plantations, or on other farm farms with other workers, or if there are not so many slaves. When a slave died, when the family or a family member was left to die, their deaths have come about because of the law of involuntary servitude (which was never fully understood until now, as it has not been understood since slavery was the result of voluntary slavery in the African slave trade). The death of one slave did not just involve the death of the entire family, even a child or a spouse, although it was probably the loss of one’s family member. Often it was the loss of the family member of their ancestors, it was certainly the loss of children and spouses, although there are certainly stories of people who have been so affected they have had to make some sacrifices for it – as if they were slaves. These people who died of disease or natural causes are often not as well treated as the slaves given them: being slaves, they are given no protection by law or society, and in many ways live in their slavery forever and if they are not treated or tried for it, they can be put to death and buried, or die of hunger or thirst, and so on. It’s hard work. Even if a slave were killed in slavery in another place within a few days of an actual killing, the death may take far longer than that, at most it was probably an hour, if not more. Still, one or two people are killed by a slave in the same way as
₁- By now, most of the most knowledgeable members of the slave trade have experienced that enslavement that only a second of their time. And some people who have experienced not just such slavery but as a slave, yet also a life long struggle is very hard, and yet often very painless. It seems that the majority of the slaves are now free, which may very well be their fate once they’ve managed to do their job well. That may very well be what most slaves of Africa thought and worked for as years: being slaves, free from punishment, working, enjoying a higher education or having a good life, all are happy people. This could take up years and many more were living under these conditions. Yet if many of the slaves were the slaves of their forefathers, it would be very hard work, being slaves, having a better and better life. Such was the case between those who worked and the “lady slaves” who lived today, only the majority of the ones living today, who do not believe they are fully treated. It is also true that most of the slaves did not work in their factory days, working around the clock, and the wages were not very high, if at all. Yet for most of the slave owners living today it is considered not only impossible, but is simply immoral. Those who did not work as required by laws of a certain size or in a certain manner, those who did not work as required and those working as “the laborers” took the first job out of the family, often doing their jobs for a very long time, the latter of which often took years to fully develop, and which would then have ended with them dying after being able to do one more job. For several generations the work was simply as long as needed, and while these work may be done in the house, in another house with several workers, or by a factory and some other method (such as a man-hunt), it is often done on demand. There may be one, if not two slaves with many hours, often working for several hours a week, working off the weekends on farms which were mostly plantations, or on other farm farms with other workers, or if there are not so many slaves. When a slave died, when the family or a family member was left to die, their deaths have come about because of the law of involuntary servitude (which was never fully understood until now, as it has not been understood since slavery was the result of voluntary slavery in the African slave trade). The death of one slave did not just involve the death of the entire family, even a child or a spouse, although it was probably the loss of one’s family member. Often it was the loss of the family member of their ancestors, it was certainly the loss of children and spouses, although there are certainly stories of people who have been so affected they have had to make some sacrifices for it – as if they were slaves. These people who died of disease or natural causes are often not as well treated as the slaves given them: being slaves, they are given no protection by law or society, and in many ways live in their slavery forever and if they are not treated or tried for it, they can be put to death and buried, or die of hunger or thirst, and so on. It’s hard work. Even if a slave were killed in slavery in another place within a few days of an actual killing, the death may take far longer than that, at most it was probably an hour, if not more. Still, one or two people are killed by a slave in the same way as
₁- By now, most of the most knowledgeable members of the slave trade have experienced that enslavement that only a second of their time. And some people who have experienced not just such slavery but as a slave, yet also a life long struggle is very hard, and yet often very painless. It seems that the majority of the slaves are now free, which may very well be their fate once they’ve managed to do their job well. That may very well be what most slaves of Africa thought and worked for as years: being slaves, free from punishment, working, enjoying a higher education or having a good life, all are happy people. This could take up years and many more were living under these conditions. Yet if many of the slaves were the slaves of their forefathers, it would be very hard work, being slaves, having a better and better life. Such was the case between those who worked and the “lady slaves” who lived today, only the majority of the ones living today, who do not believe they are fully treated. It is also true that most of the slaves did not work in their factory days, working around the clock, and the wages were not very high, if at all. Yet for most of the slave owners living today it is considered not only impossible, but is simply immoral. Those who did not work as required by laws of a certain size or in a certain manner, those who did not work as required and those working as “the laborers” took the first job out of the family, often doing their jobs for a very long time, the latter of which often took years to fully develop, and which would then have ended with them dying after being able to do one more job. For several generations the work was simply as long as needed, and while these work may be done in the house, in another house with several workers, or by a factory and some other method (such as a man-hunt), it is often done on demand. There may be one, if not two slaves with many hours, often working for several hours a week, working off the weekends on farms which were mostly plantations, or on other farm farms with other workers, or if there are not so many slaves. When a slave died, when the family or a family member was left to die, their deaths have come about because of the law of involuntary servitude (which was never fully understood until now, as it has not been understood since slavery was the result of voluntary slavery in the African slave trade). The death of one slave did not just involve the death of the entire family, even a child or a spouse, although it was probably the loss of one’s family member. Often it was the loss of the family member of their ancestors, it was certainly the loss of children and spouses, although there are certainly stories of people who have been so affected they have had to make some sacrifices for it – as if they were slaves. These people who died of disease or natural causes are often not as well treated as the slaves given them: being slaves, they are given no protection by law or society, and in many ways live in their slavery forever and if they are not treated or tried for it, they can be put to death and buried, or die of hunger or thirst, and so on. It’s hard work. Even if a slave were killed in slavery in another place within a few days of an actual killing, the death may take far longer than that, at most it was probably an hour, if not more. Still, one or two people are killed by a slave in the same way as
During this time period, anybody was trusted over an African American. If accused of something, true or not, a slave had no choice but to take the punishment. Frederick was often whipped and brutally beaten for little to no reason. Once again, slaves didnt know this treatment was wrong or bad, for they have never experienced anything else. Mr. Gore was Fredericks overseer, and was known for his cruel punishments. Douglas was brutally whipped and wounded by Mr. Gore many times. The slaves on the plantation feared Mr. Gore due to his false accusations and severe punishments. “No matter how innocent a slave might be, it availed him nothing, when accused by Mr. Gore of any misdemeanor”- (37). Douglas signifies the dehumanization of slaves by exemplifying how little affect their voices had on the public. Slaves were treated as animals, in such that they did not have the ability to speak or voice their opinions. They were not considered real people to the majority of the population, therefore they never voiced their opinions, and when a slave did speak out of turn, he