Examples Of Dehumanization In Frederick Douglass

Suzanne Quiroz

Mrs. Ramírez

AP English Language

1 August 2017

On Society and Slavery The origins of protesting and showing discontent with the practice of slavery was centuries old yet remained a common custom throughout most of human history.Various autobiographies of former slaves compile to make the genre of slave narratives that give testimony to the horrors of slavery. Famous slave narratives include The Interesting Life of Olaudah Equiano, Twelve Years a Slave, and Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. The latter was published in 1845 and recounted Frederick Douglass’ life through slavery into manhood. Although Douglass was born into slavery in the state of Maryland, it was through reading and writing that he

Furthermore, dehumanization diminishes the victim, makes them seem unworthy of humane treatment, and can lead to the following: war crimes, genocides, and human rights violation. In Narrative, Frederick gives testimony that during this era in the United States the treatment of his fellow people was less than humane. Douglass

He then said to her “Now, you d---d b---h, I’ll learn you how to disobey my orders!”and after rolling up his sleeves, he commenced to lay on the heavy cowskin, and soon the warm, red blood (amid heart-rending shrieks from her, and horrid oaths from him) came dripping to the floor… I had never seen anything like it before. (9)

Through punishments, such as the one given to Aunt Hester, Douglass understood how slave owners saw their slaves as basic property that was at their disposal. Slave owners also forced slaves to believe that they were not human through these punishments. Even Frederick Douglass, who at the time was literate, had been convinced that he was only a slave while serving cruel slave master, Edward Covey. In Narrative, Douglass confesses:

I was broken in mind, body and, spirit. My natural elasticity was crushed, my intellect languished, the disposition to read departed, the cheerful spark that lingered in my eye died; the dark night of slavery closed upon me; and behold a man transformed into a brute!” (82)

Mr. Covey broke Douglass’ will to become a free man both mentally and legally. Douglass was dehumanized and lost his human elements under the condiment of slavery that was enforced upon him. Slave masters prefered to keep their slaves benighted using their tortuous methods than allow them the chance to improve