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Katarina Cvetkovic
Natasa Karanfilovic
XIX century American literature
Maj 16, 2011
Frederick Douglass s work A narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass
an American slave written by himself, is an autobiography, written by a
fugitive slave. It was published in 1845, as an antislavery document in
which Douglass specified his personal history and experience when being a
slave. He satirically presented a dark world of slavery to audience, providing
many details concerning his life in Maryland. The purpose of this testament
was to convince Americans to put the end to the slavery as soon as possible.
When talking about criticizing slavery, it was important for Douglass to
criticize slave masters a lot. He exemplifies false Christianity by portraying
sadistic, barbarous and religious slaveholders, who, according to his opinion
were the worst.
Slavery had existed around the world almost as long as there is a
record of human activity. People mainly became slaves in the American
colonies. It all began slowly in the Caribbean, North and South America
where African slaves were transported to perform various types of
exhausting works. Challenges to slavery, particularly by Quakers, began to
be heard in the eighteenth century and growing increasingly in the West,
Great Britain and the United States. Southerners were demanding slavery to
spread more and more, but since some were supportive of it, some not, the
arguments over slavery caused the civil war, which lasted from 1861 until
1865. Finally Great Britain ended slavery in its Caribbean colonies in 1833,
and two years later slavery was abolished in the United States (Andrews and
Mc Feely).
After escaping from slavery, Frederick Douglass became a leader of
the abolitionist movement in antebellum America. His goals were to abolish

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slavery on the whole, to bring freedom to the three million of enslaved

people, to bring back the rights of blacks and bring about the abolition of the
Transatlantic Slave Trade. Not many people in Britain understood the evils of
the Slave Trade, and those who did, argued against it in every possible way.
He considered abolition the only true resolution to slavery. Other resolutions
were false and would fail just as the Missouri compromise which tried to limit
slavery geographically in 1820. At first, many politicians were not supportive
of abolitionism, but later they defended it strongly (Keith). Abraham Lincoln
was significant figure and he is to be mentioned because he issued
Emancipation Proclamation, hoping to prevent slavery expanding further in
the U.S. After Lincolns bill came into power in 1860, could the end of
slavery heavenly be noticed and freedom to all enslaved people guaranteed.
What is more, the bill encouraged Douglass to conclude his Narrative
(Andrews and Mc Feely).
Douglasss work is described as simple , true, coherent and warm with
genuine feeling (Andrews and Mc Feely). He succeeded to touch the hearts of
readers, but before that, there was a bit of skepticism which kept pace with
him and his rising reputation. Since Douglass did not gain any formal
education, his friends feared that nobody would believe that he was the true
author of the book. There were many doubts about his intellectual skills,
some people considered him illiterate and not skillful enough. Frederick
Douglass was afraid to reveal his real name to public, because in one way he
was still a slave trembling not to be reenslaved or captured by his last owner
(Andrews ans Mc Feely).
When talking about the relationship between a slave owner and a
slave in 19th century in America, it is to be known that a master was allowed
by law to hold his slave as his possession and property. Masters were the
ones who would decide what the poor slave is to eat, drink, when and where
to speak. Furthermore, they had a permission to interfere in their private life
and determine whom is a slave to marry and how long that marriage is to
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endure (Andrews and Mc Feely). They encouraged slaves to marry, probably

because then they would become less inclined to revolt. At that time, before
the eyes of the state, the only one who was always to be guilty is a slave.
Slavery was profitable and that was the only thing that masters cared about.
In all these horrible conditions, slaves were alone and lonely, separated from
their parents and families as infants and nobody cared about it. One of the
masters favourite acts was separating children from parents, husbands from
wifes and leaving their hearts desolate. Whipping was a daily therapy slaves
got. They were frequently whipped when least deserving it, and escaped
whipping when most deserving it. Whenever slaves tried to complain, no
matter how unjust that complaints were, they were not allowed to say a
word. Courts and community of Talbot country, Maryland did not treat killing
a slave illegal or a crime (Andrews and Mc Feely). This denotes that slaves
were perceived as things and objects of nihilistic people.
Slavery was an evil, but coherent social system in which slave owners used
hard punishments in order to make their slaves produce crops on the
plantations. Although slaves were reluctant, not co-operative, and
sometimes disobedient, they did not have any choice, but to do as the
master ordered. Actually, any attempt of disobedience would cause some
kind of punishment. When master was speaking, the only thing that slave
should do was: stand, listen and tremble (Andrews and Mc Feely, 21). This
indicates that on no account were they allowed to defend themselves, even
if it was a false, unjust accusation. It would be certainly shameful for a
master if the slave turned out right before the eyes of thousand of slaves.
This system could only function if these victims bore in their minds that
they were nothing but instruments for gaining profits.
Douglass explains how small black children learned their position in
society: I have no accurate knowledge of my age (Andrews and Mc
Feely, 12). This tells us that the wish of all masters was to make slaves
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ignorant. A large number of slaves did not know the day of their birth, nor
the names of their mothers and fathers. Thus, Douglass did not have the
special day to celebrate his individuality, and reacted to his mothers death
as if she were a stranger. Regarding his father, he suspected that it was his
master (Arthur).
One might wonder how slave owners made all that people into slaves.
Did slaves accept the terror of reality, or showed any sign of discontent?
Ulrich B. Philips, who was the historian of slavery, assumed that African
American slaves were a primitive childlike people who readily accepted the
guidance of their maters (Arthur). This was also one of the things Douglass
criticized, but this time regarding slaves. No wonder he could not understand
their inferiority. Even when these poor creatures were treated most cruelly,
they did not render the rebellious spirit, nor tried to bring murderous masters
to court. Douglasss Narrative gives details on how young black children
were brought in that social system.
However Douglass was different. Although born into the slave system, he
was not quite part of it. As a young boy he gained certain experiences that
helped him later skip the process of socialization and consequently, he was
among few who succeeded to run away from terrific life on the plantation.
His story had a happy ending.
In addition, Douglass had fortune to have a mistress from the North,
who intended to teach him to read and write. As she was not informed that
slaves were banned from any kind of education, she found herself in an
uncomfortable situation. When Douglasss master found out she started
teaching him, he angrily admonished her: A nigger should know nothing
but to obey his master - to do as he is told to do. learning would spoil the
best nigger in the world (Andrews and Mc Feely, 29). There was a rule that
slaves were to be kept illiterate by law, and due to that, many remained
completely illiterate, although they wanted to gain just basic knowledge.
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Learning to read and write and experiences he gained when young, enabled
Douglass later to work as a craftsman. However, he was not completely
independent and was obliged to hand all his earnings over to his master
(Arthur).
Sometimes, if in mood, they would award slaves for hard work, giving
them miserable sum of money, but hardly ever were slaves allowed to spend
their money as they wish. Every thing that they got, was in modest amounts
including food. By far, the cruelest deed was not to provide a slave with
enough food, after he would spend all day laboring in the sun or rain
(Andrews and Mc Feely). Nevertheless, the food was stored while the slaves
were starving. Although this was done on purpose, the masters deared to
pray that God would bless them in basket and store (Andrews and Mc Feely).
It is easy to conclude that they would rather accumulate food and let it get
mouldy, than give it to a slave. This caused the serious problem of profound
starvation. Due to that, they were doomed to eat their own flesh, in order to
survive (Andrews and Mc Feely).
No doubt they worked in brutal conditions and faced numerous
dangers, such as encounters with wild animals. They were suffering many
hardships besides hunger. Unsanitary conditions, inadequate nutrition and
hard labor made slaves highly prone to disease, which was not treated
adequately. They were even forced to work when they were sick, as well as in
all weathers. It was never too hot, or too cold. Wearing the same clothes in
all weathers and suffering from various illnesses was a part of their everyday
life as it was wrapped in the vicious circle of abuse and torture. If resisted,
they would simply be shot. Child mortality was extremely high on these
plantations, too.
However, the slaves did have one perk and that is the days between
Christmas and New Year. Normally, they were not required to work these
days, but to look after cattle. Only these holidays could mollify the sorrow
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and carry off a rebellious spirit for some time. Actually, that was their only
privilege granted by merciless slave owners, and that was done with a
certain plan. As a result of that, slaves would become more submissive,
which they obviously wanted. Those who were not punished or did not reject
this favour, were allowed to spend holidays with their family members. It was
a tradition to drink a lot on days like these, therefore masters encouraged
slaves to drink excessively (Andrews and Mc Feely).
This may sound positive and friendly, but it was not. That way masters
only desecrated the hallowed days, since they tended to invert everything
including religion, more specific- Christianity. The most despicable character
in Douglasss work is Edward Covey, and he is to be mentioned since
Douglass encountered conflict with him, but eventually escaped severe
punishment. He was known as a snake among slaves, because he would
crawl around and take by surprise anyone in the middle of work (Keith).
Douglass lived in a religious community, and reports that the religious slave
holders were the worst. He was a true, devoted Christian who strongly
criticized false Christianity. Obviously bondage had its own Christianity, as
well as rules and moral. Several masters, after converting to Christianity,
began, for some reason, to behave more brutally towards slaves. Southern
churches were also corrupt. As slaves were victims of slave trade, churches
benefited money from that process and were complicit in the inhuman
cruelty of slavery (Andrews and Mc Feely).
According to Douglass, Emancipation would be the only resolution to
dismantle Southern inversion of True Christianity. It was a religion of Victorian
America, while slavery was a labour system which had adopted Christianity,
but inverted all its values (Keith). Slavery was accepted and supported by
the North and that was the reason why Frederick decided to speak
passionately against it, to his readers.

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Slaves were not recognised as legal subjects and purpose of their life
was mere work. All children and women were obliged to work nine hours per
day and were given minimal amounts of food. They ate from a trough like so
many pigs (Arthur). Every example the writer uses makes us come up with
the conclusion that slaves were treated as animals, or better- as tools. For
Fredecrick Douglass, connection between slaves and animals was constantly
reinforced. Men, women and children were on the same scale (Arthur).
White boys used to say that it was worth a half a cent to kill a nigger
(Arthur). Not only were the slave holders allowed to kill, sell or buy a slave,
but the white children as well. For an instance, black slaves could not testify
in court against the white. It seemed that they gained a sense of power
simply by being white. Black slave children were given no shoes, jackets and
shirts until old enough to work in the fields, and masters were more strict
towards them than to the whites. Another difference to be mentioned is that
black children could not turn to their families for comfort. These children did
not have a shoulder to cry on as they were separated.
It can be noticed that people changed under the influence of slavery and that
change was only to worse. It is known that what doesnt kill us, makes us
stronger, but under the influence of being surrounded from all sides by evil,
you will for sure transform yourself unconsciously into a beast. Sometimes
slaves indentified with their supervisors.
Not only were men and children mistreated, but women as well. They
were physically and psychologically abused and the most horrifying was
whipping them. However, we should not omit the information that their
bodies were frequently kept naked for everyone to see. This deed was
equally painful as whipping itself. As a child, Frederick had been unfortunate
to observe a very traumatic event related to his Aunt Hester. Whipped to
death, she would scream late in the night and awake her cousin. The more
she screamed, the more master whipped, and so until she was covered with
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blood. For him, this was the entrance to the hell of slavery, the image that
forms in ones mind is of ones sister, mother, aunt (Martin). Masters would
keep their young women tied up in horrid situation four or five times at a
time. Some would tie them up early in the morning and whip them before
breakfast, then leave them, return at dinner, and whip them again (Andrews
and Mc Feely ).
When turning to critics, Frances Foster was among the first ones to
introduce the enslaved woman as a sexual victim. She observes that there is
a difference between male and female narratives. Female narratives hardly
contain any sexual abuse or scenes of raping, while male narratives do
(Andrews and Mc Feely). As it was mentioned that Douglass could not
understand slaves indifference, here he also gives us an example of their
impotence. They were totally powerless and impotent onlookers, condemned
to watch the abuse. The writer described many whippings in detail. He
moves our attention to Mr. Plummer, the overseer, who would cut and slash
the womens heads and seem to take great pleasure in it (Andrews and
Mc Feely, 176). Every scene indicates that they were more than sadistic.
Their food was poor slaves moans, sadness and agony. Douglass provided
readers with many details on every aspect of slavery, especially on this
related to whipping and sexual abuse of women.
Went through all paths of darkness, Douglass could not express
everything he wanted in words. There were some extremely painful sounds,
horrid moments and bloody scenes. Time to time, he showed signs of
discontent about his manifesto, and also hesitating whether to publish the
Narrative or not, because he was afraid to reveal his identity to public. He did
share genuine anxieties with his audiences and his account of slavery and
personal experiences was the best received autobiography in the antebellum
era. It attracted the widest critical attention, and despite all doubts about his
education and skills, this work demonstrated sincerity and honesty, and later
appealed to everyone, even to reviewers unsympathetic to slavery and its
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features (Andrews and Mc Feely). They acknowledged its values and

persuasiveness. He hardly changed any detail of his personal history in the
book.
This book predominantly focuses on wrtiters emotions and feelings
that marked his brutal experience. From the beginning of the book, he needs
us to believe him. He demands that we identify and sympathize with him and
all the hardships he went through. Therefore, he describes every scene in a
great many details, so that it appears in our mind vividly and picturesquely.
We become familiar with his personal experience on the plantations, but also
we are provided with the information from Frederick Douglass as a witness
and an observer during the whipping of his Aunt Hester. When talking about
slaves, Frederick Douglass always leads us to the main point- slaves were
discriminated and treated brutally. Slaves were not only victims of gaining
profit, but victims of sadism as well. Many tried to escape abusive
slaveholdres, few succeeded in it. Those who did succeed, became free only
formally, but never again were capable of living normal lives. It can be
concluded that slaves lacked options, and it seemed that the only one was
death.
Nevertheless, no matter how many instances of aspects of slavery he could
give, we will never be able to understand what it was like. We can imagine,
but not feel the pain. Doubtless, to express accumulated anguish, grief and
disgust, was the most difficult task for him, in an attempt to fulfill the
expectations of audience and mark the most dehumanizing period of
mankind.

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Works cited:
Andrews William L. and Mc Feely William S., Narrative of the life of
Frederick Douglass an American slave written by himself, A norton critical
edition. W.W. Norton & Company.New York.London, 1997
Miller, Keith D. and Kocher Ruth Ellen , Shattering Kidnappers Heavenly
Union: Interargumentation in Douglasss Oratory and Narrative, (reader)
Zilversmith, Arthur, Douglasss Narrative in historical context, Douglasss
perplexing difficulty, (reader)
Klammer, Martin, Douglasss narrative in introductory courses, Teaching
Douglasss Narrative in an Introductory Humanities Course, (reader)

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