Frederick Douglass Compare And Contrast

Compare and Contrast “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass” and “What Is Your Fourth of July to Me?”

Frederick Douglass was arguably one of the most influential abolitionists of his day, as well as a fantastic orator and writer. He led the charge for abolition, sitting alongside Union President Abraham Lincoln as an advisor during the war. Two of Douglass’ most famous works were the “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass” and “What is Your Fourth of July to Me?”, his autobiography and a speech given to the people of his hometown, in Rochester, New York, respectively. These works share many similarities and differences, which can mainly be seen in comparing to whom they are addressed, the purpose of the works, and the tone

Douglass addresses this text primarily to like-minded individuals, fellow abolitionists and those who sympathize with them. Secondarily, he addresses it to the unconvinced and undecided, so that they may learn of the horrors of slavery from a firsthand account. “...It is (referring to the Narrative) the most thrilling work which the American press ever issued—and the most important. If it does not open the eyes of this people, they must be petrified into eternal sleep... The picture it presents of slavery is too horrible to look upon, and yet it is but a faint picture of what to millions is a vivid life. It is evidently drawn with a nice eye, and the coloring is chaste and subdued...” (123). Here, an anonymous author writing in The Liberator demonstrates exactly this, that the book is addressed to those who already sympathize with Douglass’ cause of abolitionism, but also to those who are undecided on the issue of slavery. This goal is only furthered by the author’s next point, where he suggests that Douglass’ description of his condition is “subdued”, despite Douglass’ vivid descriptions of the beatings that slaves, as well as himself, have received for even minor slights against their masters. In his “Fourth of July” speech, though, Douglass’ audience is far different. Here, Douglass addresses the common folk of his town, exploits their patriotism, and effectively redirects it against

In the “Narrative”, Douglass’ goal is twofold, both to educate those unfamiliar with the subject, swaying more to his cause, and to remind the abolitionists what they were fighting for. There are numerous examples of cruelty that Douglass faces throughout the text, merely for his socioeconomic class and the color of his skin, which exemplify these ideals, but the most striking is later in the text, when Douglass is beaten savagely, simply for defending himself when attacked. “I, of course, kept the vow I made after the fight with Mr. Covey, and struck back again, regardless of consequences... All this took place in sight of not less than fifty white ship-carpenters, and not one interposed a friendly word; but some cried, ‘Kill the damned (sm)igger! Kill him! kill him! He struck a white person.’ … for just at that time, the slightest manifestation of humanity towards a colored person was denounced as abolitionism...” (68-69). Douglass included this story, firstly, to show the readers the injustices and abuses he must face at the hands of his enemies, beaten and bashed merely because he had the gall to fight back against a man who was better off (and less colored) than he, but also to evoke the pity of the readers, suggesting that this is but a glimpse into what a slave must endure. Furthermore, Douglass shows what the Southern men think of