Frderick Douglass Narrative Criticism

Narrative Criticism Frederick Douglass

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 provides an in depth description of his explanation. Douglass' personal writings about his own survival served as crucial elements to adds momentum to the slavery era.

During the time period of 1818-1841 is approximately when majority of the events in Douglass' slave narrative take place. The place the events include Eastern Shore of Maryland,Baltimore,New York City, New Bedford and Massachusetts ,which are all located in the northern region of the United States. This information is significant when reviewing the life of Frederick Douglass because one can say this is the reason he was able to accomplish several of his achievements. Although Douglass was a slave he was given the opportunity to learn how to read and write. He also received a "monthly allowance of food and yearly clothing" He was a northern slave and did not have as much field work or obstacles as southern slaves. Location may have been one of Douglass's advantage.

In the Narrative ,Douglass shows slaveholding to be damaging not only to the slaves themselves, but to slave owners as well. The corrupt and irresponsible power that slave owners enjoy over their slaves has a detrimental effect on the slave owners' own moral health. With this theme, Douglass completes his overarching depiction of slavery as unnatural for all involved. Douglass describes typical behavior patterns of slaveholders to depict the damaging effects of slavery. He recounts how many slave-owning men have been tempted to adultery and rape, fathering children with their female slaves. Such adultery threatens the unity of the slave owner's family, as the father is forced to either sell or perpetually punish his own child, while the slave owner's wife becomes resentful and cruel. Douglass's main illustration of the corruption of slave owners is Sophia Auld. The irresponsible power of slaveholding transforms Sophia from an idealistic woman to a demon. By showing the detrimental effects of slaveholding on Thomas Auld, Sophia Auld, and others, Douglass implies that slavery should be outlawed.

Sophia Auld is one of the few characters, apart from Douglass himself, who changes throughout the course of the Narrative. She changes from a kind, loving, and caring women into a typical mean slave master. It was not rare during the 1800's for women to have no choice, but to obey their husband. This left Sophia no choice; she had to cease teaching Douglass how to read. In the Narrative, another character that plays a very important role is Douglass.