The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass Free Essays

The 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. We will write a custom essay sample on The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass or any similar topic only for you Order Now 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 slaves. 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: â€Å"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 nothing 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: â€Å"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. Their 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 how the slaves were grouped with animals: â€Å"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 reader’s 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. How to cite The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Essays The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass Free Essays 1. In what state was Douglass born? 2. Why didn’t he know how old he was? 3. We will write a custom essay sample on The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass or any similar topic only for you Order Now Name his mother. 4. Who was rumored to be his father? 5. What happened to him before he was a year old? 6. Why does Douglass think this was done? 7. How does he feel when he hears of his mother’s death? 8. Why do the slaves, who are also the children of the master, suffer more that the other slaves? 9. Who was Captain Anthony? 10. Who was Plummer and what kind of man was he? 11. What kind of man was Capt. Anthony? 12. Explain Aunt Hester’s treatment. 13. Give three (3) examples of dehumanization in this chapter. 4. Who raised Douglass and the other children? 1. Of whom did Douglass’ master’s family consist? 2. What were the principal products raised on the plantation? 3. Why were Peter, Isaac, Rick, and Jake envied by the other slaves? 4. Name the two farms nearest to the home plantation. 5. Which of the two farms was the seat of government for the 20 farms? 6. If a slave was convicted of a high misdemeanor, what was his/her punishment? 7. What other thin gs happened at this farm? 8. Name the overseer of this farm. 9. Why is his name ironic? 10. What kind of overseer was Mr. Hopkins? 11. What name did the slaves give the home plantation? 12. Why didn’t Douglass understand the songs sung by the slaves chosen to come to the Great House Farm on errands? 13. How did these songs make him feel? 14. When did the slaves sing the most? What do these songs represent? 1. What was the greatest attraction at the home plantation? 2. How were the slaves kept out of the garden? 3. What were Colonel Lloyd’s prized possessions? 4. What happened if a slave told the truth? 5. what does the expression â€Å"a still tongue makes a wise head† mean? 1. Who succeeded Mr. Hopkins? 2. What kind of man was he? . If a slave was accused of a misdemeanor, what was the result? 4. Why did Mr. Gore kill Demby the slave? 5. Give four (4) examples of slaves being murdered without consequences to the murderer. 1. Why did Douglass have so much leisure time? 2. Why was he so cold in the winter? 3. What did he use for a bed? 4. What is mush? 5. Why didn’t Douglass feel sad about leaving Col. Lloyd’s plantation? 6. What does Douglass feel the move to Baltimore did for him? 7. Of all the slave children that could have been picked to go to Baltimore, to what does Douglass attribute his being picked to go? How to cite The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Essays