A Critical Analysis Of Frederick Douglass Narrative Of The Life

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Frederick Douglass’ story is credited as one of the great slave narratives and a pivotal document in the dialogue about slavery in the United States. Douglass’ Narrative of the Life explains the trauma and injustices incurred during his enslavement, shedding a light on the inhumane treatment of enslaved Americans. This text serves as a touchstone of the slave narrative genre. The success of the narrative is in part credited to the authenticity by the endorsement of popular white abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison in the preface and the addition of “Written by Himself” in the title. Furthermore, Douglass’ accounts can be verified by The Anti-Slavery Manual first published in 1834 as a handbook for abolitionists. It details the arguments of …show more content…

In fact, it is surprising to the reader when he entertains the mystical root said to provide protection given to him by a former slave, Sandy (Douglass 1215). He accredits his own disinterest in Christianity to his own harm done by its followers. Not to say that During his enslavement in Maryland, a white man named Mr. Wilson proposes a Sabbath school for the slaves to study the Bible. Douglass struggles to be handed a Christianity that he sees as love-centric and the religion distorted by his abusers. The manual affirms that the Bible directly commands Christian kindness in over fifteen passages, which is irreconcilable with the practice of slavery (42). Twice throughout the narrative Douglass asks how a righteous, giving God could allow such atrocities to …show more content…

Reverent J.C. Postell in chapter four of the manual states that the slaves are brimming with all sin in their natural state, and their enslavement “revolutionizes them from such a state… where they may have the Gospel, and the privileges of Christians.” However, other slavery supporters, including Douglass’ masters the Ault family do not deem the slaves worthy of reading the Bible. Douglass reflects on Christianity positively when he discusses the Sabbath school, meant to teach slaves the Bible. The dismantling of the Sabbath school by religious leaders is an important turning point in Douglass’ faith journey and more importantly his self-concept. After beginning to teach Douglass to read, the Aults realize that an educated slave elevates in agency and is “of no value to his master.” (Douglass 1196). To Douglass, “he who proclaims it a religious duty to read the Bible denies me the right of learning to read the name of the God who made me” (Douglass 1236). At this point Douglass becomes aware of the importance of literacy, which ultimately drives his escape. Reverend Postell concludes his statement by explaining that God has the power to destroy slavery as He created it. This flip-flopping behavior reveals frailties in their Bible-based

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