The Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass

During what was considered one of the worst parts of American history, African Americans were enslaved and forced against their will to serve the needs of their masters. This horrid period had an incredible impact on the enslaved African Americas. Considering this, however, were slaves the only people impacted by the dreadful act of slavery? Ultimately, slavery had created an impact on the slaves, and the people who owned them. By forcing slaves to live a life full of discrimination and constant fear, their perspectives had changed caused by living with the burden of slavery. The slaveholder’s developed a new perspective by owning slaves which gave them a new ethical sense of morality. The narrative, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

To better understand how slavery impacted slaves’ perspectives is through Frederick Douglass’s personal experiences when he was enslaved. Chapter seven of Frederick Duglass’s narrative devises a better understanding of his viewpoint. It states, “It opened my eyes to the horrible pit, but to no ladder upon which to get out. In moments of agony, I envied my fellow slaves for their stupidity. I have often wished myself a beast. I preferred the condition of the meanest reptile to my own.” Frederick elaborates on the idea that learning how to read led him to a deeper understanding of what slavery authentically was and how naive he and the other slaves had been by not realizing this sooner. Once Frederick learned to read with the guidance of young boys and his mistress, he understood how disturbing slavery was and the

This unfair treatment also changed the perspectives of the people enforcing it. As slaveholders became more heartless and ignorant, they accepted slavery as morally correct. Emphasizing the idea of this, chapter seven of Frederick Douglass’s narrative presents, “My mistress was, as I have said, a kind and tenderhearted woman; and in the simplicity of her soul she commenced…Slavery soon proved its ability to divest her of these heavenly qualities. Under its influence, the tender heart became stone, and the lamblike disposition gave way to one of tiger-like fierceness.” Frederick compares his mistress to wild animals that describe how her soft presence had become harsh and hostile as a result of slavery. The mistress had such a sweet personality and was a kind person who gave Frederick a sense of hope when moving in with her. Despite her kind and loving character, slavery had turned her into a person who possessed the utmost power over the lives of innocent enslaved people. This power motivated her to enslave people which dominated the ability to care. Slavery changed his mistress when her husband lashed out at her for teaching Frederick how to read. Reading wasn’t an opportunity for slaves and she quickly realized that. The mistress was forced to believe that Frederick shouldn’t be treated like everybody else. As a result of being