Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass Summary

A review for this legendary insight into the mind of an escaped slave was written by Benjamin Arthur Quarles. An African-American historian, administrator, scholar, educator, and writer. Who in one of his most famous works, worked and edited the exact book he chose to review and discuss in his essay Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. As well as working as an editor to bring Frederick’s novel back into publication with a new edited publication he also worked and wrote his books as narrative accounts of critical wartime periods that focused on how blacks interacted with their white allies and emphasized blacks' acting as vital agents of change rather than receiving favors from whites. Quarles argues in his review of in which he calls “the Narrative” was to show his

There was a dramatic quality in his very appearance—his imposing figure, his deep-set, flashing eyes and well-formed nose, and the mass of hair crowning his head. An exceptional platform speaker, he had a voice created for public address in pre-microphone America.” (Quarles). What he argues in his piece is that this novel is not one of finger-pointing, assigning blame and hatred towards all white people and slave owners. Quarles argues that it is a mere glimpse into the life and hardships of a black man who was a slave, giving Frederick Douglass ethos when describing these events to those who have might never experience the atrocities of slavery. The last major argument from this review can be summarized as an overarching theme present in the novel of struggle. The author of the review recognizes this and makes a point to bring it forth at the end of the essay stating how “Aside from its literary merit, Douglass’ autobiography was in many respects symbolic of the Negro’s role in American life. Its central theme, struggle. The Narrative is a clear and passionate utterance both of the Negro’s protest and of his