In Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Frederick Douglass made arguments by using rhetorical strategies such as theme, dramatic irony, and atmosphere to persuade a northern audience to oppose slavery. Frederick Douglass was born a slave, however he escaped his master in Baltimore and became an abolitionist. Even though Douglass had no formal writing or public speaking education, he persuaded many Americans to change their views on slavery. The theme of dehumanization was apparent throughout the narrative. Douglass said; "I was broken in body, soul, and spirit. My natural elasticity was crushed, my intellect languished, the disposition to read departed, the cheerful spark that lingered about my eye died; the dark night of slavery closed in upon me; and behold a man transformed into a brute!" (Douglass, pg. 105.) Douglass viewed himself not as a person, as an object. Expressing his weaknesses he’s developed by being a slave to the audience showed them he wasn’t just a field hand, Douglass was a person with emotions and feelings. "It was worth a half-cent to kill a 'n*****,' and a half-cent to bury one." (Douglass, pg. 69.) Placing a value on a human takes away their sense of dignity. …show more content…
Auld was forced by her husband, Douglass’ master, to quit educating him. Douglass had said Mrs. Auld was kind to him, but after her husband banned her from teaching him, she became hostile and bitter. Mr. Auld changed her view on slaves and seeing all humans equally regardless of their color. Mr. Auld had already been coined a cruel slave owner, seeing as he’d never owned slaves, after attending a church meeting Thomas Auld became even more harsh towards Douglass. This is ironic because religion is supposed to accept people of all colors, however Thomas Auld believed it was his God-given right to own slaves and for the slaves to obey