Visions of Freedom
The 1845 autobiography, The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, provides an elaborate examination of the hardships of slavery. Frederick Douglass' firsthand recounting of the whippings, beatings, and hangings he observed as a slave in the nineteenth century vividly illustrate the poor treatment African American slaves endured in the South. His words, thoughts, and feelings throughout his internment as a slave provide an in depth description of his account. Douglass uses many rhetorical devices and figurative language, which enhances his writing and enable his readers to envision the points that he put across. His use of rhetorical devices and figure of speech also wields in his audience from the bias of his Autobiography. Further, his autobiographical story bridges the gap between simple historical facts and the myths associated with American slavery. One rhetorical device that Douglass use's is an apostrophe, which is an address delivered to the absent, the dead, or to an inanimate thing, as if present. In the narrative Douglass uses an apostrophe to the sailing ships. In this apostrophe, Douglass fights against the dehumanizing effects of slavery and he goes on to prove his essential humanity by directly comparing him
By doing this, the names and places could be traced back proving his authenticity. It seems slavery made white people believe that slaves were wild animals. The stories he told are true yet so inconceivable that many readers were shocked how inhumanely slaves were treated. She had never owned a slave before Douglass and initially treated him very well. Douglass overcame the feeling of being treated as a piece of property and used his emotions to write a book. The autobiographic style of this book unravels Douglass' journey through a period in United States history that is often overlooked by textbooks. He stated, "My meeting with Frederick Douglass dispelled my doubts; he is indeed an extraordinary man-the type of class- such an intellectual phenomenon as only appears at times in the republic of letters" (xxix). Douglass said, "that cheerful eye, under the influence of slavery, eventually 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" (31). The jurors considered the book was "intended to cause slaves to rebel and make insurrection, and denying the right of property of masters in their slaves" (xxxiii). Isaac Nelson was a critic and waited to meet Douglass before critiquing on the Narrative. Along with rhetorical devices, Douglass's use of figure of speech gives meaning to his narrative. I should have been confined in the galling chains of slavery" (Douglass 44). Gore was an overseer, and he cold-bloodedly shot a slave for not obeying him. Many journalists waited for him to speak before they critiqued his book.
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Acceptance Essays
