Comparing Douglass Narratives To Abolish Slavery

Throughout the narrative Douglass appears to be reminded of the representative voice he has – the ability to speak for several enslaved and disenfranchised people. Douglass writes the narrative to dispel myths about black intelligence, emotions, capabilities, family life and connections; to address the realities of slavery, and ultimately to appeal to whites to abolish slavery.
Douglass begins his autobiographical narrative with his earliest memories, his childhood, and his memories of his mother. Douglass like many other slaves had the opportunity to know his mother stolen from him. Douglass’ mother, an enslaved woman named Harriet Bailey, was taken from him and sent to another plantation when he was just under one year old, “It is a common …show more content…
Douglass realized the power to end slavery lay with Northern whites. Douglass’ vivid descriptions of the violence against slaves throughout his narrative meant to stir empathy for the plights of slaves and to encourage others to see slavery as not a necessary evil, but an evil unto itself. The evil of slavery Douglass depicts in his narrative, is not only the violence towards slaves, but the stealing of one’s humanity, potential, and the insufficiency of education allowed to slaves. Douglass opens his narrative by stating that he does not know his birthdate or his age, a simple act of autonomy given to whites, “By far the larger part of the slaves know as little of their ages as horses know of theirs… A want of information concerning my own was a source of unhappiness to me even during childhood. The white children could tell their ages. I could not tell why I ought to be deprived of the same privilege” (). Throughout the narrative, Douglass documents his fight for his education. After his mistress refused to teach him anymore, Douglass would give the young white boys in his neighborhood food in exchange for lessons. Douglass, after learning to read and write, was often consumed in a depression the more aware of the world he became “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 killed myself, or done something for which I should have been killed”(). His existence as a “slave for life” was a source of great trouble for him and he vowed to escape to freedom. Douglass’ life as a free man is not easy but is evidence that freed slaves can be contributing members of society. Douglass finishes his narrative with a reasoning for his work, “I have been engaged in pleading the cause of my brethren—with what success, and with what devotion, I