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How Did Frederick Douglass Use And Abuse Of Irresponsible Power

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Four thousand and two hundred religions exist in the world each supposedly guiding their followers through commandments, decrees, and customs. The largest of all these religions that impacted the American culture is Christianity. Pioneering with the Salem Witch Trials to the various cult movements that still materializes on the news, some people have a tendency to manipulate religious teachings or abuse their powers for leverage over others. Frederick Douglas writes in depth about fanatic ideologies of slave owner combined with warped interpretations of religious text furthermore, he demonstrates how sudden irresponsible power can corrupt one's ethics. Frederick Douglas wrote about the various people that owned him and a slave owner that …show more content…

She had bread for the hungry, clothes for the naked, and comfort for every mourner that came within her reach” (para. 15). Ordinarily, by virtue Mrs. Auld is a compassionate human being who genuinely wanted to provide nourishment basically improving the quality of his life. Later on he writes, “ 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 “(para. 25). Consequently, this quote shows that even a person with high virtue can regress into a savage. To clarify, Mrs. Auld had never owned any slaves before inheriting Douglas. Not being accustomed to owning slaves provided Douglas a glimpse of what kindness resembled, however, with the anxiety and pressures of society she succumbs to the role of a cruel master. Douglas gained an early exposure to Christianity furthermore, he met various people that claimed to be pious through discipline slaves. To exemplify, Mr. Conley described as a poor farmer made his living by breaking slaves

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1. Fredrick Douglass witnessed harsh and violent actions throughout his slave life, as slave owners utilized Christianity as a justification for these actions and for the system of slavery. Douglass experienced this religious abuse throughout his life as a slave. However, in 1832, when he began working for Captain Auld, he witnessed the misuse of religion in the setting of a violent action. After Auld whipped a young woman, he justified his actions by quoting the Bible: “He that knoweth his master’s will, and doeth it not, shall be beaten with many strips” (33).

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Through the use of structure Douglas is able to conceive that idea that slave owners are not only bad people but have no feelings toward blacks. They will do whatever they please even if that action is morally wrong and undeserving. Douglas begins by telling about his grandmother being a victim of these awful slave owners. He begins by explaining how his grandmother was a loyal slave from young to old and “she had been the source of all [her masters] wealth” (395). By beginning with the positive aspects of his grandmother Douglas makes one grow a liking for her.

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“I wished I could be as free as they would be when they got to be men.” Frederick Douglass said this because he is a slave for life and wants to be free. Abraham Lincoln has similar problems with slavery, the only difference is that Lincoln isn’t a slave. Narrative Life of Frederick Douglass and House Divided are two similar texts. Frederick Douglass has problems with being a slave and Lincoln has problems with slavery.

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After having read both Frederick Douglass’s Narrative and Harriet Jacobs’s Incident 1. How were Douglass and Jacobs similar and different in their complaints against slavery? What accounts for these differences? In both the inspiring narratives of Narrative in the Life of Fredrick Douglass by Frederick Douglass’s and in Incidents in the life of a slave girl by Harriet Jacobs the respective authors demonstrate the horrors and disparity of slavery in there own ways.

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Abolitionism was a well-known movement around the time of the Civil War and its aim was to put an end to slavery. The people of the early nineteenth century viewed the elimination of slavery in numerous ways. Some fought against the end of slavery, some appeared to mildly support the cause and yet others wholeheartedly supported the ending of slavery until their dying day. Charles Finney was a religious leader who promoted social reforms such as the abolition of slavery. He also fought for equality in education for women as well as for African Americans.

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The abolitionist movement has been highly influenced by former African American Slave, Frederick Douglass. He is an important leader of the abolitionist movement that argues slavery is an unnecessary evil. Having never received a formal education, Frederick Douglass has been able to create a strong reform movement. In addition, Douglass is a successful orator and author who wrote many best selling books. His strong work ethic and intelligence make him highly fit for the University.

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Frederick Douglass had a tough and hard life. Throughout his tough and hard life, he developed and showed characteristics that were of a great leader. They were, bravery, the ability to be cunning, and the ability to adapt. Frederick was once a Slave and later became free. as a little boy kill manhood he had a lot of, kind, cruel, and cunning Slave masters.

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Throughout the “Narrative of Fredrick Douglass”, Douglass develops an image between true and false Christianity. Douglass elaborates his point in the opening appendix, calling the former “the Christianity of Christ” and the latter “the Christianity of this land.” Douglass describes the ordeal that slaveholders’ Christianity is not a given evidence of natural goodness, but an artificial state of self-righteous brutality. To tackle this distinction, Douglass states a basic contradiction between the charitable, peaceful beliefs of Christianity and the violence from the immoral actions of slaveholders. The character that is described as a good example for this theme is Thomas Auld.

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Group Essay on Frederick Douglass “That this little book may do something toward throwing light on the American slave system”, and that Frederick Douglass does in his eponymous autobiography. Douglass throws light by dispelling the myths of the slave system, which received support from all parts of society. To dispel these myths Douglass begins to construct an argument composed around a series of rhetorical appeals and devices. Douglass illustrates that slavery is dehumanizing, corrupting, and promotes Christian hypocrisy. Using telling details, Douglass describes the dehumanizing effects of the slave system which condones the treatment of human beings as property.

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One character, Sophia Auld, Captain Auld 's wife, before becoming a slaveholder’s wife,has a kind and understanding moral character. However, seeing “the white man 's power to enslave the black man,” she became a cruel slave owner”(Douglass 40). (insert commentary)“The fatal poison of the irresponsible power was already in her hands, and soon commenced its infernal work”(Douglass 39). Another example is Thomas Auld. He became corrupt and inhumane after inheriting slaves through marriage.

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The legendary abolitionist and orator Frederick Douglass was one of the most important social reformers of the nineteenth century. Being born into slavery on a Maryland Eastern Shore plantation to his mother, Harriet Bailey, and a white man, most likely Douglass’s first master was the starting point of his rise against the enslavement of African-Americans. Nearly 200 years after Douglass’s birth and 122 years after his death, The social activist’s name and accomplishments continue to inspire the progression of African-American youth in modern society. Through his ability to overcome obstacles, his strive for a better life through education, and his success despite humble beginnings, Frederick Douglass’s aspirations stretched his influence through

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In Narrative Life of Frederick Douglass, Frederick Douglass give you insight on how he struggle while being a slave in the 1800’s, It shows that your current Circumstance can not defined who you are in where you trying to go in life. Douglass had the ability to overcome physical and mental abuse by teaching himself how to read and write. Frederick Douglass real name was Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey. He was born year 1818 In Tuckahoe County outside of Maryland. He was born into slavery in a time where the color of skin defined who you were.

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Learning to Read and Write Fredrick Douglas was a well known figure in the abolishment movement his narrative “Learning to Read and Write” Fredrick Douglas shares his own personal journey of how he learns to read and write. His chronological organization also helps the reader get a better grasp of the stages in his life; his innocence, his epiphany, his loathing and his finally his determination. In the expert Douglas uses syntax and diction, intelligent metaphors and he use of irony to portray his thoughts that went through his mind as a slave.

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PAGE 2 In the Narrative Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass, he uses this text to explain his purpose in “throwing light on the American slave system”, or show it for what it really is, as well as show his position on how he strongly believes slavery is an issue that needs to be addressed and how it differs from those who defended slavery, with experiences from his own life to support his argument. Douglass uses experience from his early days as a young slave to throw light on the aspect of physical abuse. According to his narrative, Douglass states, “Master, however, was not a humane slaveholder.

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Also, in the same chapter, Douglass’ expresses his feelings for Mr.Freeland stating, “I will give Mr.Freeland the credit for being the best master I ever had” (Douglass 49). Douglass’ states that Mr.Freeland was not religious but he was the best master he ever had. It is ironic that non-religious slaveholders treat their slaves better than religious slaveholders. Therefore, Douglass notes the irony of religious and non-religious slaveholders: religious slaveholders being more cruel than non-religious slaveholders. Douglass perceives how slaves are treated worse than animals.

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