Through his strong usage of irony, he is able to show that despite their so called deep beliefs in their faith, that the slaveholders simultaneously choose to ignore all of the teachings that they should hold dear so as to allow themselves to utilize an individual for their own benefit. He also points out the glaring irony in their usage of biblical references which essentially highlight the evils of the institution that they are trying to uphold. It is with all of this in mind that Douglass ultimately sums up the astoundingly hypocritical nature of the southern “Christians” by saying, “ The man who wields the blood-clotted cowskin during the week, fill the pulpit on Sunday, and claims to be a minister of the meek and lowly Jesus”
Through his strong usage of irony, he is able to show that despite their so called deep beliefs in their faith, that the slaveholders simultaneously choose to ignore all of the teachings that they should hold dear so as to allow themselves to utilize an individual for their own benefit. He also points out the glaring irony in their usage of biblical references which essentially highlight the evils of the institution that they are trying to uphold. It is with all of this in mind that Douglass ultimately sums up the astoundingly hypocritical nature of the southern “Christians” by saying, “ The man who wields the blood-clotted cowskin during the week, fill the pulpit on Sunday, and claims to be a minister of the meek and lowly Jesus”