This week, we began to read "Frederick Douglass: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave". This book, as I read it intently, has had great impacts on me. Not only was his story powerful, but the way he wrote it (in my eyes) seemed as close as perfection as one could get. The words that he chose not created imagery and rather than just informing the readers of how things were, his words evoked emotions within me.
The first thing that caught my eye and attention was the second sentence of his story. "I have no accurate knowledge of my age, never having seen any authentic record containing it." (47) At first glance, you continue to read, because the generally the second sentence in a story is still part of the introduction, but you are stopped, almost forced to commit a double take. Wait, what? He doesn't even know his date of birth? Almost every biography, or story about one's life begins with a birthdate, thus showing the reader from the very beginning that his story is not like any other you've read about.
The next thing that is very interesting about his story is the imagery and emotions that he creates in his story. My attention was drawn to page 51.
"The louder she screamed, the harder he whipped; and where the blood ran fastest, there he whipped longest. He would whip her to make her scream, and whip her to make her hush; and not until overcome by fatigue, would he cease to swing the blood-clotted cowskin. I remember the first time I ever witnessed this horrible exhibition. I was quite a child, but I well remember it. I never shall forget it whilst I remember any thing. It was the first of a long series of such outrages, of which I was doomed to be a witness and a participant. It struck me with awful force. It was the blood-stained gate, the entrance to the hell of slavery, through which i was about to pass. It was a most terrible spectacle. I wish I could commit to paper the feelings with which I beheld it."
This passage was one of the most powerful to me. Because it really made me stop and think, this isn't just a story, this is what happened in real life, not only to Douglass but to so many people, in my country, this was real. The last sentence when he says that he wishes he could say in words how this horrible experience made him feel shows just how strong it was. The part about the "entrance to the hell of slavery" was so incredibly written. He could have easily just written about the experience and that it was horrible, but he makes the readers think about how severe it was, it wasn't just what they endured, it was indeed the worst experience he had had at that moment in his life. I felt astonished, which was odd considering we have always been taught about slavery and I've known that they endured this. It was just a matter of the past, it was history to me. But he made me feel legitimately sorrowful, and disgusted, fearful for him and the other slaves that had to go through this.
Another passage that had a great impact on me was when he described the slaves singing. "Slaves sing most when they are most unhappy. The songs of the slave represent the sorrows of his heart; and he is relieved by them, only as an aching heart is relieved by its tears." (58) This just makes my heart sink, and although the content is depressing, it is so beautifully written. He puts things into perspective for his readers, he wants to make them understand how he's feeling, not just what is happening. Overall this story has shown me how the written word can have an actual affect on the reader, and this writing, although evoking many sorrow-like emotions, is beautiful.
"The louder she screamed, the harder he whipped; and where the blood ran fastest, there he whipped longest. He would whip her to make her scream, and whip her to make her hush; and not until overcome by fatigue, would he cease to swing the blood-clotted cowskin. I remember the first time I ever witnessed this horrible exhibition. I was quite a child, but I well remember it. I never shall forget it whilst I remember anything. It was the first of a long series of such outrages, of which I was doomed to be a witness and a participant. It struck me with awful force. It was the blood-stained gate, the entrance to the hell of slavery, through which I was about to pass. It was a most terrible spectacle. I wish I could commit to paper the feelings with which I beheld it." (51)
ReplyDeleteThis passage was the same one that stood out to me the most. The way he describes these actions are so intense but his style of writing is very calm and matter of fact. I stopped reading and thought wow; I can’t even imagine this happening or what seeing this would have been like and he even says this wasn’t the worst of what went on.
I read this same passage to my mother and half way through she asked me to stop and told me she didn’t want to hear this anymore and I thought it was ignorant on her part and that’s maybe why Douglass wrote this. His point was to tell his story and make people take a stand on the issue of slavery. To ignore what was going on or not want to listen to our countries history is ignorant. The people that were living at this time were well aware of slavery and how they were treated and instead of addressing the issues they swept it under the carpet. It amazes me that acts like this and the brutality and de- humanization of African Americans to slaves even took place in our country. In school we read and learned about the Missouri Compromise and the Underground Railroad but seeing these same things and what happened from someone else’s eyes that experienced it, is powerful.
I absolutely agree with your statement that “The words that he chose not created imagery and rather than just informing the readers of how things were, his words evoked emotions within me.” A lot of times I would shrivel in disgust due to the words Douglass chose in describing the horrifying acts done upon the slaves. His choice of words allowed us to vividly imagine the pain and suffering that the slaved had gone through. I like the passage that you quoted on page 47. When I was reading the novel, this passage really struck out to me. It is scary to think that how can someone not know about their birthdate? Your birthdate is something that is so simple, yet a big part of your identity. Unfortunately this is the reality of his life; as being a slave.
ReplyDeleteI felt the same way when you said “…it really made me stop and think, this isn’t just a story, this is what happened in real life, not only to Douglass but to so many people, in my country, this was real.” It is shocking to know that a country full of freedom today used to be a country full of enslavement. To me, it is humiliating to say that slavery was a part of the American history. Slaveholders didn’t understand that no matter what race, everyone is a human being and everyone should be treated equally. It is not fair to be treated in such a demeaning way just because they were born into a family of color. Slaves didn’t even get a chance to prove themselves worthy of a better life. Singing is supposed to be a way to express emotions. However, it is devastating to know that the driving force of singing a song is due to constant torment. The slaves’ ability to constantly work hard and bear the painful punishments is just remarkable. This ability is what makes the slaves, in my opinion, the superior race.
Cassandra
ReplyDeleteI think you bring up very important points in your analysis of Frederick Douglass’ novel. Just like you this novel has been very impacting to me and I think that is what Frederick Douglass wanted to do. He wanted to not only bring awareness of this horrible reality to people but wanted the readers to get a real image of what life as a slave was like. Douglass’ recounts of his experiences are very detailed and straight forward which allows the reader to try to understand what these people went through. Of course we will never fully be able to understand because we weren’t the individuals living through this but Douglass’ recounts allow us to comprehend the realities of this horrible situation.
The passage "I have no accurate knowledge of my age, never having seen any authentic record containing it." (47) Also stood out to me because it shows how these individuals were transitioned into being slaves. These individuals were completely stripped of their identities by not even allowing them to know their date of birth, making it seem like they these people didn’t even exist. These people were wrongfully stripped of their individuality and from their families. The fact that they were taken away from their birth mothers stripped them of ever having any type of familial relations. In Douglass case it had detrimental consequences because he was unable to emotionally connect with people, especially when his birth mother passed away.
It is truly devastating to think that in our country this type of treatment towards other people was allowed. You brought up the quote on page 51
"The louder she screamed, the harder he whipped; and where the blood ran fastest, there he whipped longest. He would whip her to make her scream, and whip her to make her hush; and not until overcome by fatigue, would he cease to swing the blood-clotted cowskin. I remember the first time I ever witnessed this horrible exhibition. I was quite a child, but I well remember it. I never shall forget it whilst I remember anything. It was the first of a long series of such outrages, of which I was doomed to be a witness and a participant. It struck me with awful force. It was the blood-stained gate, the entrance to the hell of slavery, through which i was about to pass. It was a most terrible spectacle. I wish I could commit to paper the feelings with which I beheld it."
This scene like many others makes me cringe. It’s absolutely horrifying that anyone especially a child witnesses something as horrifying as this. I can only imagine the psychological effects this had on these people. I don’t comprehend how people were able to beat, torture, and kill another human being without feeling any type of remorse or guilt. These individuals were able to go home to their families and sleep comfortably knowing they almost killed someone. I would like to know if any of these slave owners or helpers ever felt repulsed by what they were doing? because like we read alot of the people that were actually beating the slaves were doing it because it was their job. So it makes me wonder if they weren't getting paid for this would they still do it? Like you stated in your blog post Douglass story truly shows how the written word can have an effect on the reader.
I have to agree with your statement where you say that Frederick Douglass’ writing style and words evoke emotions. The way that he writes also strikes me and makes me think of how brutal of a life that a slave lived. But I think that there is a rhyme and reason to his style of writing. Since he wrote and published his narrative in 1845 this was to evoke the emotions of the readers in white America, especially in the northern states where Frederick Douglass fled to as a free person. I think the purpose was to create a movement and to truly show white people, who had not really experienced the severity of slavery, the truth behind the institution that degraded so many black people. And though Douglass had become a free man, there were many more slaves to be freed and this narrative was in my opinion an attempt to get the truth out about the cruelty of slavery and free many other who were like himself and undoubtedly received much more inhumane treatment than Douglass. In this instance normal words to describe such integral parts of his life and help to promote an anti-slavery movement would not have sufficed in his attempt to achieve freedom for all people.
ReplyDelete