Purpose: Douglass firmly believed that slavery was not only poisonous and dangerous for slaves, but for slaveholders as well and he used this event to prove his assertion. Quote: “The fatal poison of irresponsible power was already in her hands, and soon commenced its infernal work. That cheerful eye, under the influence of slavery, soon became red with rage; that voice, made all of sweet accord, changed to one of harsh and horrid discord; and that angelic face gave place to that of a demon.” (Douglass, 47-48)
Reason: Power over a person can be a poisonous temptation and it can deftly change a person. Slavery can be a deadly thing, and can change a compassionate person (such as Mrs. Auld) into a cold-hearted, cruel master. Power often corrupts and poisons people and owning a person distorted and warped Mrs. Auld’s views of morality.
Purpose: This was a major event in Douglass’ life because for the first time in his life, he stood up to one of his oppressors and thus created a new identity for himself; a determined and fiery individual, that won’t
…show more content…
Quote: “He [Pap] kept me with him all the time, and I never got a chance to run off. We lived in that old cabin, and he always locked the door and put the key under his head nights.” (Twain, 22) Reason: The cabin and Huck’s imprisonment could represent the enslavement of slaves, and the brute treatment they were forced to endure. Pap’s treatment of Huck could be compared to a slave-owner’s treatment of his slave and the feelings of estrangement and bitterness Huckleberry Finn could be synonymous with what the black slaves