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Slaveholders In The Narrative Life Of Frederick Douglass

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In “The Narrative Life of Frederick Douglass” Frederick Douglass talks about his life as a slave ,and the challenges that he went through ,but he also tells how slaveholders were affected during slavery. Frederick Douglass talks about how slaveholders have great powers over their slaves. Being the slaveholder can enforce that you are above the slave ,and that you are allowed to do what you please to you “property” ,and that could corrupt your humanity. One example of this is Sophie Auld. Sophie Auld was a kind and generous slaveholder ”I was utterly astonished at her goodness”(Douglass 45); she even helped teach Frederick Douglass to write, but after she had been the master of Douglass for a while she started to become inhumane, cruel, and malice. “That cheerful eye, under the influence of slavery, soon became red with rage.” (Douglass 45) Another slave owner that Douglass talks about is Thomas Auld. Thomas auld was a slaveowner that did not grow up with slaves; Thomas got his slaves threw marriage which made a heart- rending slaveholder. …show more content…

This slaveholder was an African American known as Anthony Johnson and he was the first legal slave owner in America. Anthony Johnson owned 250 acres and he had one indentured servant. This servant's name was John Casor and he was also an African American. John Casor told Johnson to “release him after his seven years of indenture.” (Jim Hoft) ,but after the seven years Johnson said he knew of no indenturement and that Casor was to be his servant for life ,and the court declared Casor his property. This shows how slavery can not only take away the humanity of a white slaveholder ,but it can take away the humanity of a black slaveholder. In conclusion slavery was a horrid time ,and i can only imagine what owning someone as property and whipping and beating them would to do my humanity. Slavery was truly terrible ,and not only for slaves but for everyone taking part in

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The narrative of Frederick Douglas breaks down the very mechanisms used to enslave African Americans; from the deprival of education to an over use and desensitization of violence. What also occurs: is the realization that slavery as a system is able to damage those who are in power and use slavery. Corrupting the morals and empathy of white Americans who come in contact with the societal structure of enslavement. The same cycle which keeps African Americans from breaking free also keeps slave owners on a continuous path of cruelty. As an industry slavery seeks to survive and to do so it must have full support and no opposition; by both parties being changed to fit their roles it is able to do so.

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“Letter to My Master, Thomas Auld” explores Frederick Douglass’ view of slavery and Thomas Auld, his former slave master, in a smart and emotionally charged letter originally written in 1848 and published in the abolitionist newspaper North Star. Throughout the letter, Douglass uses his own experience as a slave to drive his views, often using sarcasm and a dark recognition of his trials to drive his own view of slavery; that slavery should be abolished and that it is inhumane and cruel. Douglass’ decision to publish this paper in the North Star allowed him to bring to light his experiences to push other readers of the newspaper towards an abolitionist stand point by bringing his first-hand accounts of slavery forward and explaining, at times

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    Douglass uses deep characterization to show the change in behavior of slaveholders who have uncontrolled power. A good example of this is Sophia Auld. Before slavery took effect, she was a kind and caring woman who comprehended moral righteousness. She had never owned a slave before Douglass. Owning Douglass soon changed her into an evil slave owner when she realized the power, “the white man’s power to enslave the black man” that she had (Douglass 41).

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