Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass Analysis Essay Example

(49). This statement represents clear logic and portrays the factual traditions of the time. Nevertheless, these facts provoke potent emotional reactions.

Douglass, through his choice of words such as "wicked desires", "own lusts", and "cunning arrangement", effectively highlights the malevolence in his master's deeds. He rationalizes the statement, "my master was my father", by laying out the specifics of the children borne by slave women. This argument, while primarily logical in nature, incorporates a deep emotional element. The explicit depiction of the incidents themselves is inherently vile and Douglass, by way of his phrases, condemns both slavery and his master's actions. Legal provisions themselves established slave owners as fathers to the slaves, and Douglass lays bare, with stark brutality, the notion of a life begun as a slave.

The effectiveness of Douglass' communication of the brutalities of slavery can be greatly attributed to his choice of words and linguistic style, rather than the actual presentation of facts. In a particular instance, after observing numerous acts of extreme violence and even murders inflicted upon slaves, Douglass concluded with a common phrase used among slave masters, which was "it was worth a half cent to kill a nigger, and a half cent to bury one." While this statement may not necessarily be factual, it aligns logically and highlights the reason why a white man wouldn't be convicted for killing a slave by the courts. Douglass' utilization of this phrase underscores his deep comprehension of his environment and its severe level of corruption and brutality.

The given statement undermines the worth of an entire race, communicating effectively to the reader's deepest emotions. The potency behind this sentiment arises from its

logical reasoning, imbued with pathos. The shocking proposal that a human life could be measured as half a penny within slave-owning circles is impossible to neglect and commands attention in the emotional core of the reader's psyche. Through this rationally and emotionally persuasive literature, Douglass critiques the ethical standards of his era while grappling with his most significant challenge - establishing his own identity. Slavery left Douglass feeling less than human. His longing for knowledge stems from his aspiration to be recognized as a deserving citizen in his own eyes, and that of society.

Throughout the narrative, Douglass increasingly experiences harsh treatment. At a certain moment, Douglass makes a decision that he refuses to endure slavery any longer. He proclaims, "My long-oppressed spirit revived, fear left me, courage took its place; and I determined that even if I must remain a slave outwardly, the time has gone by for me to be a slave in reality. I did not shy away from making it clear that any white man who hoped to beat me into submission would have to kill me first" (113). This passage is rich with emotional appeal, leading the reader to Douglass’ emotional peak as he triumphs over his master. It is through this emotional appeal that the morality of slavery is challenged.

Slavery led a man to the determination of preferring death over enduring a whipping, due to the significance it held for him. Douglass had previously encountered such pain multiple times, but it was the moral implications of the situation that hurt him more than the prospect of death. Here, Douglass criticizes the entire structure of slavery, demonstrating in the subsequent confrontation

that he's won a significant fight in the prolonged battle against slavery. In this passage, Douglass presents a rational depiction of each specific occurrence, portraying society as it truly was then. The sentiments prevalent in that period, nonetheless, give his narration an emotional punch. Douglass successfully engages with the reader by marrying pathos and logos.