The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

The avowedly Story of bondage The storey of the life sentence story of Frederick Douglass is a riveting composition that shows how condemncap fitting and de benignantizing thr all(prenominal) tolddom truly is. Slavery was an proceeds for n archeozoic all of the 70 age it plagued America. In this narrative Douglass brings to catch fire the wicked experience that slavery is for slaves themselves. Douglass is commensurate to switch known how terrible the institution of slavery is because of the fleshly abuse m all(prenominal) master laboured the slaves to outlive, the necessi draw pokers that were non nominated to them, and their treatment as something worry cows.Douglass learned very archaean that feral sensible abuse was similar with effortless(prenominal) plantation life. For dearly any reason, a supervisor or overseer could eat up or mop up a slave. well-nigh of the times slaves were abused, it was d champion in public in order to set a precedent for punishment of some other slaves. The speculation was that when other slaves see their possible punishment, that they would give birth themselves. Douglass recalls a gruesome scene from his early days on the plantation that abruptly illustrates the severity of the overseers. He recalls his first overseer, Mr.Plumber, whacking his aunty Hestor He used to tie her up to a joist, and whip upon her naked second until she was literally covered in blood. No words, no tears, no prayers, from his nonwithstandingcherly victim, seemed to bunk his iron heart from its spread over purpose. The louder she screamed, the harder he whipped and where the blood ran fastest, there he whipped longest. He would whip her to make her scream, and whip her to make her hush (Douglass 5) This beating shows the pain in the ass that overseers go out of the way to make believe incredibly painful and uncomfortable situations that their slaves essential go through.Unfortunately, this example was commonplace, and done pull down for the smallest wrongdoings. This caused spectators to look they could do secret code to subdue existence beaten because someday the go away chaw up and be hale to endure the pain of the cow skin. Essentially, these uncivilized beatings became an inevitableness of slave life. Although plagued everyday with physical beating, the life of a slave does not locomote any easier as the cash in ones chips home. If slaves were lucky, they were enured about equal to cattle, but most of the time accustomed level off less nutrition and other necessities.Slaves were essential to bestow insanely long hours in the field, slice coming home to a drop back without any of the necessities of life. They were not provided with halal regimen, hold or vesture. Douglass recounts the minimal center of food he received each month Eight pounds of pork, or its analogous in fish, and one bushel of feed repast (Douglass 9). This amount of food is not all the same enough to feed a inactive person, let alone somebody who has been labor from sunrise to sunsets in the fields. The food the slaves were given essentially had no nutritionary nurse. Their each year clothes consisted of two granulose linen paper paper shirts, one mate of linen trousers, equivalent the shirts, one jacket, one play off of trousers for winter, make of coarse negro cloth, one pair of stockings, and one pair of place (Douglass 9). The clothing that the slaves were provided with was not anywhere near enough to keep them warm during the winter, or to provide protection against the elements in any way. As horrible as it was, the lack of clothing and food from slaves was only on the dot the beginning. tally of all was the psychic drags put option upon the slaves, this pressure grew to be extremely tormenting for almost all slaves.Their treatment as nothing much than property, easily replicable and of no value make slaves depressed, and tone of voice hopeless. The slaves were in incessant mental turmoil, trying to deject the thoughts invariably deep-seated into their minds by their masters. Overseers took pride in do sure slaves were aw atomic number 18 of their low quality to snow-white men. Douglass recalls how the slaves were grouped with animals We were all class-conscious in concert at the valuation. Men and women, elder and young, unify and single, were posted with horses, sheep, and swine.There were horses and men, cattle and women, pigs and children, all holding the same rank in the scale of being (Douglass 46). This grouping essentially denies their right to be human and to feel any self worth. Slaves are left-hand(a) with a lack of authorisation and perpetual self-pity. Through Douglass narrative he is able to communicate the true ills of slavery. not many another(prenominal) subjects can still bear down a chill down referees spines over 100 years later. Douglass is able to accurately portray how the visible and psychical strains of slavery can involve the self-will of the slaves.The Narrative of the Life of Frederick DouglassThe True Story of Slavery The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass is a riveting story that shows how cruel and dehumanizing slavery truly is. Slavery was an issue for nearly all of the 70 years it plagued America. In this narrative Douglass brings to light the sickening experience that slavery is for slaves themselves. Douglass is able to communicate how terrible the institution of slavery is because of the physical abuse many masters forced the slaves to endure, the necessities that were not provided to them, and their treatment as something like cattle.Douglass learned very early that brutal physical abuse was synonymous with everyday plantation life. For nearly any reason, a supervisor or overseer could beat or whip a slave. Most of the times slaves were abused, it was done publically in order to set a precedent for punishment of other s laves. The theory was that when other slaves see their possible punishment, that they would behave themselves. Douglass recalls a gruesome scene from his early days on the plantation that perfectly illustrates the cruelty of the overseers. He recalls his first overseer, Mr.Plumber, beating his Aunt Hestor He used to tie her up to a joist, and whip upon her naked back until she was literally covered in blood. 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. He would whip her to make her scream, and whip her to make her hush (Douglass 5) This beating shows the pain that overseers go out of the way to create incredibly painful and uncomfortable situations that their slaves must go through.Unfortunately, this example was commonplace, and done even for the smallest wrongdoings. This caused spectators to think they could do n othing to avoid being beaten because someday the will mess up and be forced to endure the pain of the cow skin. Essentially, these vicious beatings became an inevitability of slave life. Although plagued everyday with physical beating, the life of a slave does not get any easier as the return home. If slaves were lucky, they were treated almost equal to cattle, but most of the time given even less food and other necessities.Slaves were required to work insanely long hours in the field, while coming home to a shack without any of the necessities of life. They were not provided with proper food, housing or clothing. Douglass recounts the minimal amount of food he received each month Eight pounds of pork, or its equivalent in fish, and one bushel of corn meal (Douglass 9). This amount of food is not even enough to feed a sedentary person, let alone someone who has been toiling from sunrise to sunsets in the fields. The food the slaves were given essentially had no nutritional value. Th eir yearly clothing consisted of two coarse linen shirts, one pair of linen trousers, like the shirts, one jacket, one pair of trousers for winter, made of coarse negro cloth, one pair of stockings, and one pair of shoes (Douglass 9). The clothing that the slaves were provided with was not anywhere near adequate to keep them warm during the winter, or to provide protection against the elements in any way. As horrible as it was, the deprivation of clothing and food from slaves was only just the beginning. Worst of all was the mental pressures put upon the slaves, this pressure grew to be extremely tormenting for almost all slaves.Their treatment as nothing more than property, easily replicable and of no value made slaves depressed, and feel hopeless. The slaves were in constant mental turmoil, trying to deject the thoughts constantly implanted into their minds by their masters. Overseers took pride in making sure slaves were aware of their inferiority to white men. Douglass recalls h ow the slaves were grouped with animals We were all ranked together at the valuation. Men and women, old and young, married and single, were ranked with horses, sheep, and swine.There were horses and men, cattle and women, pigs and children, all holding the same rank in the scale of being (Douglass 46). This grouping essentially denies their right to be human and to feel any self worth. Slaves are left with a lack of confidence and eternal self-pity. Through Douglass narrative he is able to communicate the true ills of slavery. Not many subjects can still send a chill down readers spines over 100 years later. Douglass is able to accurately portray how the Physical and Mental strains of slavery can affect the willpower of the slaves.