In his essay "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave," Douglass discusses the effects of slavery on slaves themselves, but also on slave owners. Specifically, he focuses on how slavery affected Mrs. Auld, his master's wife. Mrs. Auld was from the North, and had never owned a slave before. When Douglass first came to live with her, she had been "preserved from the blighting light and dehumanizing effects of slavery." Slowly, Mrs. Auld became corrupted by the "irresponsible power" of owning a slave and her behavior was completely altered by this power. Through Mrs. Auld, Douglass illustrates to his reader how dehumanizing slavery is not only to the slave but to the slaveholder as well.
             In describing his first encounter with Mrs. Auld, it seems Douglass is in awe of her presence, which has been untainted by the power of slavery. According to Douglass, "The meanest slave was put fully at ease in her presence, and none left without feeling better for having seen her." Douglass sees her in a totally different light than any other white women he has ever met. He describes his first encounter with her, admitting, "I was utterly astonished by her goodness. I scarcely knew how to behave towards her." Using vivid imagery Douglass allows his readers to imagine Mrs. Auld before her drastic change. He writes, for example, how "Her face was made of heavenly smiles and her voice of tranquil music." Perhaps Mrs. Auld's kindest deed and most valuable contribution to Douglass is teaching him to read. Through descriptions and illustrations Douglass provides the reader a basis by which to compare the before and after effects of slavery.
             When Mr. Auld finds out that Mrs. Auld has been teaching young Douglass to read, she receives her first exposure to the cruelness of slavery. Mr. Auld instructs her "...if you teach a...