Analysis Of The Classic Slave Narratives By Fredrick Douglass

“Gone, gone, sold and gone” (qtd. Douglass 349) illustrates how the slaves how slaves were compared to live stock in America. Slavery was abolished about one hundred fifty years ago, but it is important to not forget the history surrounding it. Even though some people don’t understand the hardships that blacks in slavery faced, it is helpful to read slave narratives. Slave Narratives were either written by slaves, or with assistance from white abolitionist, as an effort to end slavery. Abolitionists wanted to illuminate the horrors that slaves experienced. The Classic Slave Narratives by Henry Louis Gates is a collection of slave narratives. Within the book is the Narrative of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave by Fredrick Douglass, an

Slaves were often treated as animals by whites. Slaves duty was to care to animals that were treated better then themselves, they had to make sure nothing happened to the animals. If an animal was sick, injured, or slow moving the slave were blamed and beating. Slaves were not giving beds and had to sleep on the floor weather it was cold or damp. Douglass illustrated this dehumanization when he was a child, “…I used to steal a bag which was used for carrying corn to the mill. I would crawl into this bag, and there carrying on the cold, damp, clay floor, with my head in and feet out.” (Douglass 333) He was not even treated like a person, but left cold on the floor. The way slaves had to eat is another way they were treated like animals. Douglass wrote, “It was put into a large wooden tray or through, and set down upon the ground.” (Douglass 334) Some slaves even had to fight pigs for food because they were so hungry. The fact that slaves succumbed to the treatment is dishearten. Fredrick Douglass; however, did not want remain a slave for the rest of his

An example of a “nice” slave owner could be seen in the house of Mr. Hugh. Fredrick was able to learn a skill; however, all his money earned had to be turned over to his Master. The reason why his slave owner was cruel was because he was still being used to make money without the physical, but mental abuse. It is mentally daunting on a person to have money in their hand, but to turn it over to a person that did not earn it. Another example is when he was comforted by his white masters after he was beaten. He returned to his home after being beaten by white people that were angry he was working with them. He informed his Master of what happened, who went to seek help from the authorities. The fact that his owner went to ask for help meant that he care about his slave, but once he was told there was no help the owner dropped the issue. The slave owner allowing his slave to be almost beaten to death and not pursing the matter is not a just person. A respectable person would fight against injustice and not succumb to it. The final example of a slave master showing Fredrick Douglass common decency was when we his slave mistress tried to educate him. However, her fear of her husband lead to he no longer teaching him. This woman then became aggressive every time the saw trying to read. Instead of coming to his defense she treated him like an animal. These are the reasons