LITR 4232: American Renaissance
University of Houston-Clear Lake
Student Presentation, spring 2001

Reader: Lacy Lakner

Recorder: Robert Buffum

20 February 2001

"Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave"

            "Narrative" written in 1845 by Frederick Douglass, a former slave, depicts his life as a slave, the horrendous conditions of slavery, and the effect the common practice had on slaves and slave owners. Using objective 3 (equality and race), and the theme of dehumanization, the first passage on page 1781 shows how slaves were treated as nothing more than cattle, namely "horses, sheep and swine." Here, the slaves undergo a "valuation" to determine their worth, not as individuals, but as laborers. Ironically, this degrading act shows how devalued the slaves were as human beings, and in the eyes of the slave holder, slaves were nothing more than property.

            On page 1764, Douglass tells of his experience with his first Master. This passage describes how hardened the Master has become, for he is able to repeatedly whip a female slave devoid of any emotion, that "no words, no tears, no prayers, from his gory victim, seemed to move his iron heart from its bloody purpose. The louder she screamed, the harder he whipped." This passage illustrates slavery’s effect on the slave owner; that is, slavery causes the one in power to become desensitized to the slave condition, and develop a hardened heart. He loses his ability to sympathize and feel neither emotion or remorse.

            Slavery also had a profound effect on females, or rather, women married to men who owned slaves. Douglass explains this in his passages on pages 1776 and 1778. Here, both women, Mrs. Auld and Mrs. Hughes, were women who "once given the irresponsible power," became just as hideous as the men in their treatment of slaves. Mrs. Auld’s angelic face gave place to that of a demon," and Mrs. Hughes’ "lamblike disposition gave way to one of tigerlike fierceness."

            Interestingly, to this point, Douglass has used animal imagery throughout the "Narrative" to portray the slave and slave owner. On page 1809, Douglass employs several animalistic depictions, such as "a den of hungry lions," "ferocious beasts," "the hideous crocodile," "wild beasts," and "helpless fish." An interesting class discussion followed when asked for opinions on Douglass’ use of animal imagery to comment on the slave condition. Charley pointed out that the images of the lamb and lion were biblical. Dr. White pressed the class to look beyond the surface for deeper meanings of the images used. He suggested that there was a higher meaning attached to them, and that the images portray a dog-eat-dog existence. Again, Charley pointed out that white people used biblical imagery to explain or justify a given situation. William added that in folklore, the oppressor is often portrayed as animalistic, a demon, one working on the human consciousness to destroy the soul. Dr.White then wrapped up by suggesting that in all, the animal images show brutalization of both slave and slave owner.

            In essence, slaves lived like animals, were treated like animals, and felt like animals, and yet, in reality it was the slave owners who were the uncivilized beasts. Slavery had lowered the value of humanity for both slave and owner, allowing neither to reach their full potential and become capable, civilized human beings.