Frederick Douglass: The Sacrific Life Of A Slave

Frederick Douglass was one of the most influential abolitionists of 19th century America. His main purpose in writing his narrative was to rebuke the romantic image of slavery in the antebellum south. For decades, southerners and northerners would create reasons for rationalizing the institution of slavery. Through his narrative, Douglass convinces Americans of the true conditions of slavery by including characters that contradict the romantic image of slavery, proving that slaves are intellectually capable, and explaining why slaves are disloyal. Douglass includes many figures from his early life in his narrative that portray an accurate depiction of the horrific life of a slave. For decades, many southerners perceived their lifestyle as a grand aristocracy who owned thousands of acres of …show more content…
Unsurprisingly, Douglass conveys that the life of the average southerner was the complete opposite, and slaves were hardly treated humanely. Southerners saw their slaves as animals who were greatly inferior to them. Douglass recalls when he is young that when his aunt was whipped by their master, “no words, no tears, no prayers, from his gory victim, seemed to move his iron heart from its bloody purpose. The louder she screamed, the harder he whipped; and where the blood ran fastest, there he whipped longest” (5). His shocking account of this event was effective in asserting his criticism of a southerner’s idealistic portrayal of slavery. Douglass’ horrifying imagery of his aunt being abused conveys the sadistic nature of his blood-lust driven master. In addition, Douglass also comments on the common misperception that slaves would sing while working. In fact, “slaves sing most when they are most